Scottish farmers need more clarity on post-brexit support, says Ewing

Michael Gove’s plan for funding farmers after Brexit leaves “far too many questions unanswered”, the Scottish Government has warned.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said many farmers could leave the industry if their funding was not protected, and he warned this would have a “devastating” impact on country life.

Mr Gove said the UK gov- ernment would maintain basic farming subsidies for at least three years after Britain formally leaves the EU in 2019, with a possible two-year extension lasting until 2024.

The EU’S current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidy system, which is based on the amount of land owned, is worth around £3 billion a year to farmers in the UK.

The Environment Secretary said that farmers would be paid more fairly under a postbrexit system, being rewarded for planting woodland and helping wildlife.

Mr Ewing said the Scottish Government welcomed the temporary continuation of CAP basic payments.

But he said: “While this guarantee provides a degree of certainty and clarity, it does not cover a whole variety of vital support schemes which are crucialtoensurethecontinued economic well-being of all of Scotland’sruralcommunities.”