Scottish farmers’ union prepares for annual two-day conference

PREPARING Scotland’s farmers and crofters for post-Brexit change is the theme running through NFU Scotland’s packed two-day AGM, dinner and conference being held in Glasgow this month.

For the second year in succession, the event will be staged at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday and Friday, February 8 and 9.

The event comes at a time of great challenges and opportunities for Scotland’s farming, food and drink sectors as the clock ticks towards the UK’s intended exit from the EU on Friday March 29, 2019.

The morning session on the first day leads with the presidential address by Andrew McCornick, in which he will map out the union’s next steps as it seeks to ensure that Scotland’s farmers and crofters secure the very best Brexit deal in terms of support, policy, trade and labour.

The Thursday afternoon commence with a session will on growing the food and drink industry, Scotland’s largest manufacturing sector, led by Dennis Overton, while the hot topic of agriculture and environmental stewardship will be addressed by Terry A’Hearn, CEO of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

In terms of future trading arrangements for Scotland and the UK, much has been made of the ‘Norwegian model’. Following an NFUS study trip to Norway in the autumn, delegates will hear from Eirik Magnus Fuglestad of Ruralis, the Norwegian Institute for Rural and Regional research.

Day two of the conference opens with Scottish farmers and crofters being challenged to engage with the public and show what farming delivers in terms of food production, the environment and the local economy.

The session concludes on Friday morning when Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing delivers the keynote speech to delegates.