The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFUS) has called for the Scottish government to “quickly fill alarming policy voids faced by farmers and crofters to restore confidence levels”.
In a statement released today (Tuesday, November 29) the union said it was calling for a commitment from the government for future policy, as defined by the Agriculture Bill, to underpin agricultural activity and Scotland’s food and drink sector.
In a 55-page response to the government’s consultation on a new Agriculture Bill, NFUS warned that “if the pursuit of a misplaced vision is all that matters to Scottish Government, then Scotland’s future ‘agricultural support’ policy will fail”.
Author of the response from NFU Scotland, director of policy Jonnie Hall, said: “The context and validity of Scottish government’s vision for agriculture has changed dramatically.
“Its vision has been rapidly overtaken by circumstances that are severely challenging future food security. Spiralling costs are eroding confidence on Scotland’s farms and crofts.
“What they need, and what the proposals in the bill fail to properly deliver, is clarity on how they will be supported in the future.
“Disappointingly, some proposals for the new Agriculture Bill set out a route towards increasing layers of additional red tape and additional costs in the pursuit of goals that may add little or nothing to the bottom line of too many agricultural businesses already facing extreme financial pressures.
“Exposing this generation of farmers and crofters to greater levels of bureaucracy would be a big step backwards.
“It is only with the buy-in of farmers and crofters across Scotland can new primary legislation turn policies into practices that deliver on high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, nature restoration and wider rural development – simultaneously.
“It is the duty of the Scottish government to help make that happen.”
