Gordon Rennie warns of the risks of crazy policies

Brexit gives farmers in Scotland a once-in-ageneration chance to shape our own destiny. My worry is that, thus far, the debate has been far too blinkered. For example, at NFU Scotland’s autumn conference several break-out groups of farmers had brainstorming sessions.

Whilst I found it fascinating to listen to some sensible and some wacky ideas on how to preserve some form of farming subsidy, we are in danger of losing sight of the bigger picture.

The reality is that we must look beyond farm subsidies. Every farmer knows the subsidy system and the soul-destroying burden of regulation and compliance are simply not sustainable.

All our energies must be focused on becoming more efficient if we are to survive post-Brexit.

To this end I have a much bigger worry than the future of subsidies. The bigger debate is whether to hand future farming policy from London to the SNP Government in Edinburgh. This is a horrific prospect, it would be akin to the NHS handing over control of the Blood Transfusion Service to Count Dracula.

It is SNP policy to ban the weedkiller glyphosate, more commonly known as Round Up. This would mean banning one of the safest products that has transformed farming for the better. Glyphosate has made the scourge of couch grass a thing of the past.

It also means farmers can now grow excellent crops without the need to plough. When farmers plough, vast amounts of carbon is released – contributing to global warming.

Minimum tillage is also beneficial to the soil and over time increases organic matter and soil health. All the evidence tells us glyphosate is safe. A recent edition of the New Scientist carries the headline: “Ban on weedkiller glyphosate won’t save anyone from cancer.”

The SNP’s Luddite tendencies do not end there. If Michael Gove was foolish enough to hand all farming policy to the SNP Government then there will be a total ban on the growing of genetically engineered crops in Scotland.

We were told at the conference to consider a scenario where only farmers in England can grow potatoes gene-edited to be 100% resistant to potato blight. I can foresee consumers opting for the pesticide-free packs of their favourite spuds, leaving Scottish spuds on the shelf.

If glyphosate was the greatest invention for global farming in the 20th Century, gene editing will be the greatest in the 21st Century. Yet our reckless SNP Government would deny both to Scottish farmers.

These crazy policies based on prejudices rather than science will do far more long-term harm to Scottish farming than the loss of farm subsidies.

In the 1930s there was an exodus of Scottish farmers to England where those canny Scots saw more opportunity.

If the SNP were to be given full control of farming policy in Scotland, there may well be a second exodus.

Picture: Getty Images. A farmer sprays fertiliser on a wheat crop. A ban on glyphosate by the Scottish Government would be opposed by many in the industry.