NFUS urges investment

Scottish farming leaders say the agricultural industry is in “pole position” to lead the country’s economic recovery – but it needs to be pump primed with incentives and financial support.

Unveiling his union’s manifesto ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections, new NFU Scotland (NFUS) president Martin Kennedy acknowledged the pressures on government budgets but insisted that investment in agriculture would create economic and environmental returns for Scotland as a whole.

He said: “This isn’t just about the profitability of individual farms and crofts, this is about the economic and environmental recovery of a country that’s struggling right now.

“Farmers and crofters are ready to play their part but, for the last five years, positive progress on rural policy in Scotland has been stymied by the Brexit debate.

“Moving out of the shadow of Brexit and the Common Agricultural Policy, Scottish agriculture will look to the new Scottish Government to work with the sector to deliver a new agricultural policy for Scotland that will deliver our key ambitions.”

However, if that new government is led by the SNP, another member of the union’s new top team, vice-president Andrew Connon, indicated a potential collision course over future land reform policy.

Mr Connon said: “The last couple of decades of land reform have brought fear, a lack of trust, and a lack of confidence between landlords and tenants.

“It has stifled progress and restricted the amount of let land on the market.

“NFUS strongly believes recent legislation on land reform and agricultural holdings should be allowed to bed in before opening up the debate further.”

He appealed for support for share and contact farming, the expansion of the starter farm project, as well as incentive packages for retiring farmers – including the option to build a retirement house on farmland.

Mr Kennedy called on the next Scottish Government to work collaboratively with UK Ministers on favourable trade deals, and to prioritise standards of production in these deals.

He added: “We also must ensure the integrity of the UK’S internal market is upheld, as this is critical to Scotland’s agri-food interests.”

APPEAL: NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy.