Scotland’s agricultural weekly The Scottish Farmer is celebrating its 120th year in 2013.
The title is thought to be the oldest farming publication in the world and has become the publication of record for the Scottish farming industry while providing essential farming news and business data to assist farmers in the running of their businesses since 1893.
“Through the past decade, the printed magazine has become part of a multi-media environment backed with a digital e-edition available on PC, iPad and smart phone,” says publisher Darren Bruce. “An informative and award-winning website and social media communities that interact with our readers have also made it a modern publication.
“Everyone here at The Scottish Farmer is as passionate about the title as our predecessors were 120 years ago,” he adds. “We look forward to many more years of unrivalled reporting.”
The weekly, which is part of the Glasgow-based Herald & Times Group, is based in Glasgow but covers industry news from across Britain and overseas, and is distributed throughout the UK, with significant circulation in northern England and Northern Ireland. Its breed and sales coverage gives it a particularly strong appeal among pedigree farm livestock farmers throughout the UK and Eire.
In 2012, the publication switched from broadsheet A3 tabloid to a compact tabloid format and printing returned to Scotland.
A book by former editor Angus McDonald charting 100 years of farming in Scotland and how The Scottish Farmer reported the issues of the day is set out in digital format on the publication’s website.
As part of the 120th year celebrations, the editorial team’s extensive photographic archives are being used to produce several special, commemorative issues.
“Our next one will be out after the Highland Show, featuring many pictures from that event over the years, plus others from some of the summer shows,” says Ken Fletcher, deputy and technical editor and a Member of the Guild. “The two that we have produced so far have featured more than 120 pictures from the late 1800s up to more modern times.”
