Welcome
to SLMS
The Scottish Land Matching service.

Welcome to the Scottish Land Matching Service. It is a free service offering independent advice and facilitation to those considering options for joint ventures in farming. It is available to anyone either seeking an opportunity to start on a joint farming venture or those looking to offer an opportunity on their farm.
Looking for an opportunity in farming?
Read our noticeboard of current opportunities in Scottish farming and register your interest.
– See the noticeboard.
Have an opportunity on your farm?
Browse our noticeboard of people looking for opportunities in Scottish farming.
– See the noticeboard.
Visit our Twitter feed.
Stay up to date with our latest news.
Expert advice.


Allan Young
My name is Allan Young, recently appointed Independent Advisor for the Scottish Land Matching Service.
I was brought up on a livestock farm near to Castle Douglas. Following graduation from Newcastle University, I returned home to farm for twelve years.
In 1992 I joined the Department of Agriculture working initially in the Inverness area office followed by spells in Edinburgh and laterally, before I retired, as Officer in Charge of the Hamilton office.
I have always welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with farmers and a wide range of stakeholders to support Scottish agriculture and the rural economy.
It is a privilege to accept this opportunity to utilise my practical knowledge and career experience to best support those who wish to make use of the Scottish Land Matching Service.
Allan Young
BSc (Hons) Agriculture.

Ian Davidson
My name is Ian Davidson, Independent Advisor for the Scottish Land Matching Service.
I was brought up on a hill farm in the Ettrick Valley near Selkirk where my father was Farm Manager.
On leaving college I worked for the Animal Breeding Research Organisation before going into farm management on two hill and upland farms in the Borders. After a spell as a self-employed agriculture contractor I joined the then Department of Agriculture as an inspector in January 1991. I held various posts in agriculture within Scottish Government throughout my career finally ending as Head of Agriculture Policy before I retired in April 2019.
The Scottish Land Matching Service is an exciting new initiative and I look forward to meeting anyone wanting to use the service.
Ian Davidson, OBE, MRICS, ARAgS.
Our supporters.

The Scottish Land Matching service is proudly supported by these organisations.













What the Scottish Land Matching Service can do for you.


Advice and guidance.

Encouragement and support.

The right opportunity.

A range of options.
A service that empowers the future.
The Scottish land matching service aims to ensure a sustainable and profitable future for Scottish Farming by encouraging young people into farming and bringing new skills, new thinking into Scottish agriculture.
