North East

Lorna Paterson

So we still seem to be battling with Covid, albeit a different strain. It looks as if this virus is likely to be with us for quite some time, so it will be necessary for all of us to get to grips with planning how best we manage our time and events to maximum effect.

As before, we must find more efficient ways to communicate our messages to one another, to consumers, key stakeholders, and governments. Unsurprisingly, that means that we at NFU Scotland must find effective ways to converse with members of all ages and genders. This is of prime importance, but it requires everyone to sign up to this.

We really need to get back to grass roots and for our members to feed ideas and opinions through their branch or commodity committees. Communication and feedback are essential. The challenges facing Scottish agriculture cannot be over-stated adequately: climate change targets and carbon trading, livestock transport, labour shortages, proposals for the creation of Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUP), the cheap food agenda, complex food labelling, the lack of understanding by some teachers regarding farming and food nutrition, input costs…the list is endless.

These challenges mean it is more important than ever to communicate the brilliant story about our food production standards. Please help sell the farming industry to anyone and everyone at every opportunity - your voice is so important and needs to be heard across the population and within the corridors of power. Speak up and speak out! 

Lorna Paterson
Tel 07786 860453
E mail: lorna.paterson@nfus.org.uk