Gougeon faces farmers’ questions

Scotland’s Rural Economy Secretary Mairi Gougeon was left in no doubt about the industry’s impatience over delays in announcing future policy detail when she faced a crowded room of farmers at the annual Agriscot seminar.

One farmer summed up the mood: “Why, after four years of talks, expert panels, groups and an implementation board, can’t we find a policy or strategy we can hang our collective bunnets on? The can’s just been kicked down the road.”

Agriscot chairman Robert Neill, who also chaired the debate, added: “We need action. We need to know the good news or bad news now.”

Ms Gougeon said she understood the industry’s frustration but insisted the responsibility of finding the right way forward weighed heavily on her.

“I’m hearing that everyone wants more detail and that is coming soon,” she said, as she rejected a suggestion from one farmer that the current agricultural policy could simply be adapted.

“The current system isn’t flexible enough to adapt to all the challenges we’re facing just now and we don’t know what’s coming in the future, for good or bad, so we need a framework that will allow us to make changes. That’s why we’re working with industry to try to get it right.”

In response to one questioner who asked if the current IT system would be fit for purpose and capable of making support payments on time under a new policy, she admitted: “It’s part of the challenge.

“We need to ensure we continue the current system while we look to build a new one, develop future policy and take this legislation through the Parliament.”

Ms Gougeon later said the Scottish Government was looking at whether the current system can be adapted or if an infrastructure change would be required.

NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy, who was also on the platform, endorsed the government’s slowly-slowly approach.

“It is essential we don’t have a blip in the IT system like we had last time.

That cannot happen,” he said.

“We want to move quickly, but in the right direction. Just this week we’ve seen a review south of the border because they went too far in one direction too quickly.

“We can’t afford to do that in Scotland. It’s important to take time and get it right. There are lessons to be learned.”

Speakers also questioned the Scottish Government’s commitment to the pig industry, fears that the introduction of cattle EID in January will be delayed because of legislative issues, and that tree planting on productive land will undermine domestic production, food security and rural areas’ futures. Ms Gougeon said her officials were “working on EID”.

“It is a substantial project because we need to do a review of all the legislation around that and the teams are already under unprecedented pressure. If we can make the date (January) work it is absolutely what we will do.”

Scottish agronomist and Ukrainian farmer Keith Dawson added to warnings over food security.

He said: “As missiles rain down, many fields are not being planted this autumn, so if you think food security is a problem this year, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

“We have a gathering storm and the gap between supply and demand is very small and diminishing every day. I want to ensure you understand that.”

ANSWERS: Mairi Gougeon at the Agriscot seminar.

Ed Munt, left, and Calum Mcdiarmid with their Sheep Farm of the Year.