Rallying call

Farm support payment policy changes needed

The sooner Scottish farm support is moved away from “blunt area-based payments” and towards more effective “action-based” measures, the sooner farmers and crofters will be able to drive productivity forward and improve their bottom lines.

That’s the 2030 rallying call issued by NFU Scotland director of policy Jonnie Hall, whose latest union blog includes a sharp warning that doubling Scottish food and drink turnover by the end of the next decade won’t happen without major policy changes.

“How will Scotland’s farmers and crofters pump-prime a food and drinks sector expected to double its turnover by 2030 while, at the very same time, playing a lead role in meeting a 70% reduction in emissions, targeted by the same date?” asked Mr Hall.

He said this is the biggest question facing farmers and policy-makers today.

“Ambition 2030, launched in 2017, sets a target for Scotland’s farming, fishing, food and drinks sectors to drive profitable, responsible growth across the industry, doubling its size to £30 billion in turnover by 2030.

“And now Scotland is set to legislate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to “net zero” by 2045, after receiving fresh advice from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). But, as well as the 2045 aim, the CCC advises an interim target of a 70% cut in emissions by 2030.”

Warning that 10 years isn’t a particularly long period in which to effect such changes, Mr Hall added that, in looking back over the last 10 years, policy moves in the recent past have all too often “incentivised inertia, stifled innovation and productivity, and undermined resilience”.

“If we’re to have any chance of success (in the next 10 years), then Scottish agriculture must be given the tools to succeed,” he said. “Agricultural policy, and the regulatory regime we must adhere to, must change to enable efficient, effective and environmentally beneficial practice simultaneously – and it needs to change soon.

“Only then can Scotland’s farmers and crofters be enabled to play their unique and critical role in the future economic, environmental and social prosperity of Scotland by 2030 and beyond.”

NFU Scotland director of policy Jonnie Hall issued a rallying call over the need to move towards more effective “actionbased” measures of farm support.