Latest Press Coverage

Unions welcome tractor law simplification - Scotsman
Scottish union president Jim McLaren said: "I wholeheartedly support any move to improve the safety of farm vehicles and therefore look forward to reading the..."

EC ponders changes to boost tractor safety and cut red tape - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland President Jim McLaren said: "“The commission’s proposals are positive in that they could boil down a significant number of complex..."

Treasury urged to help farm businesses - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren said: "The prospect of a trial in rural areas of a reduced rate of fuel duty would be welcomed by all that live and work..."

Treasury chief kept abreast of concerns - Scotsman
NFU Scotland president, Jim McLaren, said: "It was good to hear more detail on the potential for establishing a fuel duty regulator. The prospect of a trial in..."

Farm leaders hold talks with Treasury - Farmers Weekly
NFU Scotland President Jim McLaren said it was reassuring that the door of the Treasury remained open to the farming industry despite the general gloom...

NFU Scotland backs plan for BVD eradication - Farmers Weekly
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: “By responding positively to the Scottish government proposals, I firmly believe that we are well on the way..."

Union backs plans for national BVD eradication programme - Herald
NFUS vice-president Nigel Miller said: ““While removal of PIs is the key to disease eradication, our members agreed that the financial incentive could..."

NFUS backs cattle disease action - Scotsman
Union vice-president Nigel Miller said: ""This is a genuine opportunity for Scotland to rid its cattle herds of the scourge of BVD and it is encouraging that..."

Stamp out BVD - Scottish Farmer
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: "Our members are ready to play their part in eradicating BVD and believe that an initial voluntary phase..."

Axe falls on England’s Agricultural Wages Board - Scottish Farmer
NFU Scotland, policy director Scott Walker said: “The decision south of the Border to scrap the AWB in favour of existing employment laws is a victory..."

EU fines animal feed cartel €175m - Scotsman
An NFU Scotland spokesman said: ""For 30 years, many Scottish livestock farmers will have been paying over the odds for any phosphates included in..."

Farmers praised for response to tackling pollution - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland head of rural policy Jonnie Hall said: “Early indications suggest that meeting all the requirements on diffuse pollution is challenging for..."

New approach to eradicating BVD - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller told a meeting in Perth a national screening programme could be launched as early as this winter...

Reforms to BSE controls are hailed - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said the suggested reforms had the potential to strip out significant costs...

Lower costs in prospect as BSE regulations set to be relaxed - Scotsman
NFUS vice-president Nigel Mi ller said: "There would be an immediate benefit to the industry if the age at which cattle entering the food chain require BSE..."

Worrying cases of sheep mauled by family dogs - The Herald
NFU Scotland recently met with key stakeholders to discuss the threat posed to the health of Scotland’s farm animals by working and pet dogs being..."

Dog threat to farm animal health causes concern - Farmers Weekly
NFU Scotland vice-president and qualified vet, Nigel Miller said: ""For those walking or working with dogs in the country, there is a need to recognise the..."

Cattle deaths linked to dogs in spotlight - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland Vice-president Nigel Miller said: " For those walking or working with dogs in the country, there is a need to recognise the danger that their animal..."

Concern as EC passes GM crops decision to states - Press and Journal
NFUS President Jim McLaren said all they would do is provide greater opportunities for states to either reject or accept crops, essentially robbing Europe...

Europe 'sows confusion on GM' - Scotsman
NFUS president Jim McLaren said: ""The big danger is that the science behind the role that GM may have will be lost, the need for research and..."

Power to ban GMs handed to member states - Farmers Weekly
NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren said: ""GM policy across borders, such as Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, could be very different."

FSA under closure threat - Scottish Farmer
A spokesman for NFU Scotland said: “Charged with monitoring and regulating the food chain in the interests of consumers and public health, NFUS has..."

Scottish Government extends BVD consultation - Farmers Guardian
NFUS vice-president Nigel Miller said: “This is a genuine consultation on Scottish Government plans to eradicate BVD and I cannot stress enough the..."

Beef association hits out at timetable for eradicating BVD - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: "“We believe that BVD is of such serious financial and welfare significance to all Scottish cattle herds that..."

NFUS DRAWS FEW POSITIVES FROM TREASURY MEETING - Ileach
NFU Scotland President Jim McLaren said: "“The rural economy is partially protected from dramatic cuts in public spending due to the lower level of..."

Fears for Food Standards Agency over NHS shake-up - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland said it had been “a hugely important link between producers, the food industry and consumers with its wide-ranging remit..."

Poultry free from IPPC constraints - Farmers Weekly
NFU Scotland vice-president Allan Bowie said: ""It has taken three years of negotiations to reach this stage and throughout that time we have challenged the.."

Red diesel show rules clarified - Farmers Weekly
In a joint statement NFU and NFU Scotland said: “This clarification is a welcome and significant development and will ease some of the confusion..."

Confusion and frustration eased as rules are clarified - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland and NFU England yesterday both welcomed clarified rules in the wake of concerns that a previous heavy-handed approach by HM Revenue.."

CAP vision adopted by MEPs - Farmers Guardian
Scott Walker, NFU Scotland’s Policy Director said: "It is more important than ever that decision makers recognise the value of the CAP in providing EU..."

Lyon roars as EU doffs cap to plans for reform - Scotsman
NFUS policy director Scott Walker said: "While the pressure on the EU and its member states' budgets is greater than ever, it is also more important than..."

Lyon Report on CAP reform given ‘overwhelming’ support - Scottish Farmer
NFU Scotland, policy director Scott Walker said: "“We welcome George Lyon’s report and the European Parliament’s decision to adopt it as the views..."

NBA chief calls for cash 'carrot' in drive to eradicate BVD - Scotsman
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: "We believe that BVD is of such serious financial and welfare significance to all Scottish cattle herds that it..."

Farmers feel the heat as temperatures soar - Telegraph
Allan Bowie, vice-president of NFU Scotland, said: "We might need to flag up that this year the quality might be a bit poorer than normal..."

Empty reservoirs, parched crops, a whisky shortage - Scotland's weather is becoming a more serious topic of conversation - Scotsman
NFU Scotland Bob Carruth, communications director, said: "June was probably one of the driest months in living memory for lots of farmers. It certainly..."

Minor subsidy errors costing farms thousands - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren said: "“The irony is that it is currently easier for a farmer to sit and do nothing and still receive their single farm..."

Rise in farm deaths shows HSE is right to drive home message  - Scotsman
NFU Scotland has stressed the need for effective training in the use of ATVs - just because a piece of machinery is an everyday work tool...

Safety call follows tragic death of Neil Abercromby - The Courier
An NFU Scotland spokesman said, "Any death on a Scottish farm is one death too many, ripping the heart out of farming families..."

Chernobyl – final all-clear sounded - Scottish Farmer
NFU Scotland. Union communications director Bob Carruth said: “It seems incredible that 23 years after the Chernobyl accident, a small number of Scottish..."

New Commissioner to visit UK to hear EID concerns - Scottish Farmer
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: “It is heartening that commissioner Dalli has accepted an invite to the UK. Given the impact that the regulation..."

Farm death ‘tragic reminder’ of dangers - Evening Telegraph
An NFU Scotland spokesman said, “One death on a Scottish farm is one death too many. “This tragic accident is a sharp reminder to all who work in the..."

Register plan slammed by crofting body - John O'Groat Journal
NFU Scotland's crofting, Highlands and Islands committee chairwoman, Jo Durno, said: "The bill has taken years of discussion and consultation to reach a..."

Scottish sheep farms finally free of Chernobyl fallout - Independent
Bob Carruth, a spokesman for the National Farmers Union in Scotland, said: "It seems incredible that 24 years after the Chernobyl accident..."

Dickeya Solani potato disease prompts tough controls - Scotsman
This move comes after an all- industry meeting between the Potato Council, NFU Scotland and British Potato Trade Association and the Scottish...

Potato industry 'at risk' after latest outbreak of disease  - Scotsman
Jim McLaren of NFU Scotland said there was no cause for panic as the additional requirements now in the system would provide a rigorous defence against.."

Toxoplasmosis vaccine problem - Farmers Guardian
NFU Scotland vice president, Nigel Miller, said: "If you are unable to secure some or all of your vaccine requirement, you need to discuss with your vet what..."

McLaren will stand down - Scottish Farmer
NFU SCOTLAND president Jim McLaren said: "I’ve had a few weeks to think about my position and, should the rules be changed, I feel it would be a big..."

Quangos targeted in Defra shake-up - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said there was logic in the merger as it had the potential to cut out duplication in management services...

Dalli to study sheep EID problems on visit to UK - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland communications director Bob Carruth said: “That Mr Dalli has accepted an invite to see for himself the problems of EID and the regulatory..."

EU Commissioner to visit UK on EID mission - Farmers Guardian
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: "We would welcome the opportunity to encourage the Commissioner to instigate an immediate review of the..."

Impact of sheep tagging in the spotlight - Scotsman
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: ""Given the impact that the regulation has had on those who manage Scotland's 2.7 million ewes and their..."

NFU president says he won’t be seeking re-election - Press and Journal
NFU SCOTLAND president Jim McLaren said his decision to retire from the post meant he would not become the focus of the debate. It would also allow the..."

FSA gives Scottish farms the all-clear - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland communications director Bob Carruth said: “It seems incredible that 24 years after the Chernobyl accident, a small number of Scottish sheep.."

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1803572 - Farmers Weekly
NFU Scotland chief executive James Withers said: "ere are still fundamental issues we want addressed. The move by the new UK coalition government is..."

Sheep vaccine may be restricted – warning - Press and Journal
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller said: "“Problems with vaccine production are not uncommon but unfortunately they can make life difficult for health..."

Banking industry agrees to fresh Isa protocol following complaints - Herald
NFU Scotland vice-president Nigel Miller commented: “Our advice to flock owners who use Toxovax is to contact their supplier as a matter of urgency and..."

Farmer jailed after man dies in Moray tractor crash - BBC
An NFU Scotland spokesman said: "When taking to the road to haul goods, there is an undoubted requirement on farmers and their staff to do so in as safe..."