The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
UK government to assess future for north farms
Inquiry: Agriculture Bill and Brexit implications
An inquiry into the future of Scottish agriculture has been launched by Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee.
Despite farming being devolved to Holyrood, the committee will consider the implications of powers being returned from Brussels and investigate how any new farm support system could best meet the needs of Scottish farmers and crofters.
Perthshire MP and committee chairman Pete Wishart announced the terms of reference in a field on the outskirts of Edinburgh where he said the Agriculture Bill currently going through the UK Parliament set the context for the inquiry.
He said: “We have seen the direction of the UK Government and the green agenda, but where is food production and support for agri-businesses and how do we incentivise farmers to produce the diverse foods our nation requires?
“We want to look exactly at what the Agriculture Bill means and see whether it is relevant to Scotland.
“This inquiry will examine the key priorities for Scottish farming and explore how agricultural policy after Brexit will impact Scottish farmers, particularly those in remote and less favoured areas, while retaining a common framework with the rest of the UK.”
The committee will also examine shortages of agricultural workers and productivity on farms, particularly the role science and technology can play in making agriculture more innovative.
Over the next few months the committee will hear evidence from agencies and individuals on what they believe the priorities of any future agricultural support system in Scotland should be and the level of funding the sector requires post-Brexit.
The launch took place on Alastair Wardlaw’s farm on the outskirts of Balerno, near Edinburgh.
Mr Wardlaw, who runs 100 suckler cows and a small pedigree Charolais herd, said he had voted to leave the EU because he was “tired of having to answer to Brussels”.