Brian Millar has been a QMS Cattle & Sheep and Scottish Quality Crops Assessor for 4 years now. Assessing is what Brian loves and something he wishes he'd started sooner!
BACKGROUND
Having been a Farm Manager for over 30 years, I always thought an Assessor would be a really interesting job, so when old age caught up and a new hip was needed, I reckoned it was time to make the change!
I left Madras College in St Andrews and not being from farming stock, I decided to go to the East of Scotland College of Agriculture in Edinburgh - now SAC. I worked on some local farms before getting my first job as a "calf puncher" with the old DAFS, now SEERAD. I was based in Inverness and we did a lot of work in Skye, Lewis, Harris, Benbecula and the Uists. The job involved working on the calf, beef cow and sheep subsidy schemes. For the sheep subsidy we had to visit the townships ageing all the ewes and marking them, so as they were not re-counted at the next township! I was also involved with the ram and bull hire schemes.
I then worked as an Assistant Manager on Logie and Moy Farms at Forres, Dunphail, where we had 1,000 beef cows, ewes, and arable crops. After that I managed a farm in Fife for 10 years, which is now a golf course, but I still go back in the winter to pick up at their shoots!
In 1986 I was offered a job in Swaziland running a ranch and dairy for two and a half years- reselling most of the milk to the local ex pats. All the cattle, beef and dairy, were run through a spray race every week for ticks! Bulls used included Brahman, Bonsmara, and Hereford.
On returning to Scotland I worked as a Farm Manager in Aberdeenshire for 13 years and a Stockman for three and a half years before deciding to become an Assessor.
LIKES & DISLIKES OF BEING AN AUDITOR
The best part of the job is the variety of farms you see through your work including the best of stock and arable farms in the country. No two farms are the same and you learn something every day from the Angus glens to the best of arable ground round Arbroath. I often tell myself how lucky I am with magnificent scenery at all times of the year.
Having left college in the 60s, it is good to meet old college mates, even old school friends after nearly 50 years! I have even met old rugby players that I played against in the 60s, and 70s! There was also the lady who recognised me from my school days - she had a better memory than me!!
One of the few downsides to the job is the mileage we drive in the year. Also leaving in the morning and getting a cancellation for later on that day!
My pastimes include the garden and the greenhouse. I also really enjoy picking up at local shoots with my dog during the shooting season.
My only regret is that I did not become an Assessor years ago!!