MARTIN BIRSE

November sees the union making a push for member input as our head office staff and presidential team make their way around the country as part of the Future Agricultural Policy roadshows.

The roadshows will see director of policy Jonnie Hall and a member of the presidential team speak to members at different locations throughout all the regions, updating members on the union’s campaign, Steps to Change – A New Agricultural Policy for Scotland, undertaken during 2018.

As well as a chance to be kept up to date on the NFUS policy direction, the roadshows are an excellent opportunity for members to feed their views directly into the union’s top team. When we have had events like this in the past, there have always been open and frank discussions which have left all parties better informed than when they arrived.

In the Highlands, we have such a large region that we will be hosting three roadshow events – as well as two on Orkney and Shetland – so there is no excuse for members who want to hear and update and feed in their views not to attend.

The first roadshow will be at the An Crubh Community Centre on the Isle of Skye on Monday November 26 and will be attended by Jonnie Hall and vice-president Martin Kennedy.

Martin and Jonnie will then be over to Caithness the following day (Tuesday 27) at the Pentland Hotel before making their final Highlands stop at Dingwall Mart (Wednesday 28).

All three events will start at 7pm and are free to attend. There is no need to book ahead of time, but if you would like more information, phone NFU Scotland head office on 0131 4724000.

Martin Birse is farm manager at Pitgaveny Farms, Elgin, and NFU Scotland Highland region chairman.