On target :

Combinable Crops

NFU Scotland – fighting for your interests

• Regulation and Trade
  • NFUS is working hard to reduce the impact of proposed NVZ measures.
  • Our work with Government and industry is helping to develop a Scottish biofuels industry.
  • We successfully opposed UK mandatory spray buffer zones and prior notification of spraying.   We are working to prevent unmanageable EU restrictions on pesticides
  • NFU Scotland negotiated a voluntary Code of Practice for straw and stubble burning with the Government – which continues to prevent a ban on burning in Scotland.
    
    
• CAP Support
  • We successfully campaigned against further cuts in intervention prices, proposed 10-year non-rotational set-aside and for equal access to energy crop support.   Changes won under the former Arable Area Payments Scheme have resulted in higher Single Farm Payment Scheme payments.
  • We successfully argued for lower voluntary modulation rates than apply in England.
  • We started the campaign to end set-aside.   Our aim is its complete removal.
    
    
• Farm Saved Seed
  • We negotiated successfully to reduce farm saved seed royalty rates while supporting plant breeding.   Exemptions for legitimate use of older varieties such as Riband and the ability to pay per hectare, reflecting higher seed rates in Scotland, have been maintained.
    
    
• Contracts
  • We continue to campaign for fair contracts for growers through meetings and regular contacts with buyers and through our participation in the Cereals Liaison Group and the Cereals Industry Forum.
  • With other parts of the industry we work to inform growers of how best to avoid problems with contracts.
    
    
• Representation
  • NFU Scotland represents Scotland’s growers on CAP reform and other vital issues.   Our aim is to ensure they get a fair deal.   NFUS is represented on the HGCA Ltd. and SQC boards and all their committees.
  • We successfully campaigned for retention of current Levy Board VAT status.
  • We maintain close liaison with all parts of the arable industry and meet regularly with AIC, BSPB, MAGB, SWA and the other UK Farmers’ Organisations.
    
    
• Provision of Information
  • Information from NFU Scotland saves members money – through guidance on the SFPS, IACS, Contracts, Marketing and other important issues for growers
  • Contracts and Arbitration Seminars run in early 2007 and 2008.

April 2008

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On target :

Specialist Crops

NFU Scotland – fighting for your interests

• Water Framework Directive
  •  Lobbying by NFUS resulted in important changes to legislation on water abstraction and to charges.   We won a cut-off rule that excludes most members from registration and reduced charges for those who do pay.
    
    
• Representation
  • NFU Scotland represents growers interests to Government and the European Commission.
  • We liaise with the Horticultural Development Company (HDC) and the Potato Council (PC) on issues of concern to growers and ensure that levy money is used to best effect.
  • NFUS is represented on the Pesticides Forum and Assured Produce.
  • We are represented at regular Processed Vegetable Growers Association/NFU of England and Wales Field Vegetables meetings.
  • We campaigned for the PC’s Seed Sectoral Group – to secure the industry’s position within the international market.
  • We successfully campaigned for retention of current Levy Board VAT status.
    
    
• Farm Labour
  • NFU Scotland has board level representation in the Gangmaster Licensing Authority to represent the interests of Scottish growers.
  • We are representing Members interests in development of the Points Based Immigration Scheme.
  • We have highlighted problems with the Workers Registration Scheme.
  • We continue to argue for abolition of the Scottish Agriculture Wages Board.
  • We have secured extension of the lower wage band from 16 to 26 weeks.
  • We have achieved an increase in the allowable deduction for accommodation (other than houses) to bring it into line with minimum wage legislation.
    
    
• Protecting the Industry from Cost
  • We continue to oppose introduction of a pesticides tax and support the Voluntary Initiative.
  • We continue to oppose mandatory spray buffer zones and prior notification of spraying.
  • NFU Scotland secured a 50 percent reduction for horticulture from the Climate Change Levy – the only sector to receive this blanket reduction.
  • We are working with the Scottish Government for sensible implementation of EU PCN legislation.   Improvements in sampling rates have been achieved.
    
    
• Protection against disease
  • We are protecting potato growers against Brown Rot and Ring Rot through NFUS promoted voluntary import ban and the BPC Safe Haven Certification Scheme.
  • We have pressed Brussels for strengthened controls against plant diseases.
    
    
• EU Support Measures
  • In reform of the Common Market Organisation for Fruit & Vegetables NFUS supported removal of the negative list.   It will end in May 2008
       

April 2008

Download in a PDF format (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.  If you do not already have it on your computer, click here to download it for free).

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