Forestry makes case for post-Brexit attention

NFUS vice-president argues agricultural policy must be flexible

Farming and forestry interests fought for political attention and future policy priorities during fringe events at yesterday’s Conservative party conference.

Forestry and wood lobbying organisation Confor insisted the countryside was about much more than agriculture and told delegates in Manchester that forestry deserved fair and equal recognition as farming in a post-Brexit world.

Confor’s chief executive Stuart Goodall launched a report which laid out its vision of rural policy after Brexit and told politicians the Common Agricultural Policy didn’t “fit” in 2017.

“It has been a straightjacket on our rural areas,” he said.

“In our report, we quote Michael Gove, who believes there is an ‘unfrozen moment’ after Brexit where we can imagine a better way of doing things.

Our report does not call for special treatment for forestry – it calls for fair, equal treatment for forestry and all other land uses.

Farmers and landowners should be given the opportunity to make decisions on what is best for their land based on long-term and wide-ranging benefit – not on the need to chase subsidy.

Mr Goodall said his organisation did not want to see a new version of the CAP after the UK left the EU.

“We can map the future to a better countryside – one that is greener and more productive,” he said.

“As we leave CAP, we can create a new Common Countryside Policy which truly works in the best interest of all our rural areas.

“It is an opportunity we must not miss.”

Meanwhile at another fringe event the Scottish farmers’ union insisted farmers and crofters were the bedrock of the food and drink industry and should not be taken for granted.

Aberfeldy hill farmer and NFU Scotland (NFUS) vice-president Martin Kennedy called on the industry to unite to deliver strong messages to governments about what policy tools were needed to rise to the challenge.

“We already know from the significant amount of engagement we have had with members in recent months that any new agricultural policy for the UK after we leave Europe and the CAP must have significant in-built flexibilities to deliver at a devolved level,” he said.

“This approach will allow the right policies to be developed for the right areas, allowing Scotland’s active farmers and crofters to improve productivity and the environment – rather than incentivising inertia.”

Confor told delegates at the Conservative party conference that forestry deserved the recognition farming enjoys.