In terms of land use farming dominates the glen, from sheep and cattle in the hills to a more mixed system lower down. Farming has sculpted the glen over the centuries to produce the patchwork of fields, woodland, hedges, wetland and managed wilderness. Traditionally agriculture would have been by far the biggest employer in the Community but as time and technology move on the proportion of the population working in and around farming lessens.

Glenisla boasts an excellent stock rearing environment with a number of well known pedigree cattle herds and sheep flocks as well as the mainstay of commercial livestock.

Organic agriculture is on the increase as well as the uptake of several government environmental stewardship schemes.