Important to have your say

As most of you will be aware, the Scottish Government is consulting on the contents of a new Agriculture Bill which will probably hit the statute books early next year.

It is an important consultation and one all farmers should be aware of and willing to contribute to. The deadline has been extended to December 5 to give you more opportunity to do so

We know the way that farming is financially supported by the government will change from 2025-26 onwards, and this Bill is the first step in setting out the direction of travel. Of course, what every farmer would like to know is how much are they going to get from 2025 onwards and what they will need to do to get it.

We are some way from knowing the answer to that question and the new Bill is mostly about ensuring that the Scottish Government has the legal powers it needs to develop and deliver a new support scheme, with the details of what will be supported and how, following on by means of secondary legislation over the months ahead.

However, the consultation gives some clues as to the way forward. It’s clear that receipt of public funds will be linked to delivery of not just “high-quality food production” but also to activities that support biodiversity, wider rural development enhancement, and a reduction in net carbon emissions.

Being an active farmer who meets greening-type cross compliance conditions is likely to only qualify you for part of what is currently provided.

Additional payments will be linked to additional delivery of biodiversity enhancement and climate change mitigation measures, as well as innovation and business efficiency improvements. Details of the specific measures which will be available in the support scheme are currently being worked up and should start to emerge relatively soon.

Given that all farmers are likely to be increasingly involved in activities that are not strictly agriculture, it is important tenants have access to the new measures and are not inadvertently disadvantaged because such activities do not fall within the definitions of agriculture and the rules of good husbandry.

The bill proposals are wide-ranging and I would encourage you to take this opportunity to read through them.

For more information and to provide a response visit: consult.gov.scot.

SUPPORT: Sheep farmers are just one sector invited to contribute their opinions about the Agriculture Bill.