The whole Scottish agricultural industry must rally outside Holyrood on Thursday 28 November to send a crystal-clear message to Scottish Government on what it must deliver in its budget on Wednesday 4 December writes NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy.
Those attending this #FoodNeedsAFarmer rally are asked to start gathering outside the Scottish Parliament from 11:30am onwards, there will be speeches commencing around 12.30pm with the rally ending at 2pm.
At it, we will call for the Scottish Government, MSPs and officials to guarantee that the Scottish Budget on Wednesday 4 December will deliver increased and ringfenced funding for Scotland’s farmers and crofters.
The recent UK budget has sent shock waves through the agricultural industry. Firstly, with decisions made around Agricultural and Business Property Relief, hence the reason so many of us attended the mass lobby in London on Tuesday 19 November.
But secondly and just as importantly, is the decision taken by the UK Government to discontinue the safety net of a ringfenced budget for Scottish agriculture, after more than five decades.
This now means that it is entirely up to the Scottish Government how much support it will give to farming and crofting from the increased block grant that it has received. The agriculture budget is now competing with every other portfolio for funding from that grant.
It is imperative that the Scottish Government fully understands that farming and food production must be at the centre of Scotland’s future. That is the only way we can continue to deliver for our economy and the environment.
I would like to make it clear that this rally is for everyone associated with our industry whether they are an NFU Scotland member or not so please encourage others to attend. We know that, without a thriving industry, the wider supply chain will be the first to fall apart. I therefore ask you all to rally support from all the associated companies you deal with to be there on 28 November as the budget decisions made on 4 December will have a massive impact on them too.
I know many of you have our #FoodNeedsAFarmer banners so please display them where you can and support us by attending on the 28 November.
If the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament wants to secure food production and the upstream and downstream socio-economic multipliers that are critical to wider rural prosperity across Scotland, then they must not only maintain but also increase and ringfence the 2025/26 budget. They must also return the £46 million in funding stripped from previous agricultural budgets as they have promised to do.
The increase in Scottish agricultural funding would ensure the continued delivery of the significant return on investment for the Scottish Government, generate more growth and employment, and deliver the climate and nature outcomes that are vital to all our futures.
We, as an industry, already deliver sustainable high-quality food production, help tackle climate change, enhance biodiversity, and underpin vibrant rural communities. This cannot be understated or overlooked. Nor can it be put in jeopardy by real or nominal reductions in necessary funding.
In real terms, the budget we currently receive only has about half the buying power it had 10 years ago, yet we are continually asked to do more and more.
The Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament must recognise that we have the answers.
Please join us in what will be a monumental day that will echo throughout future generations. The next generation is the one that will have to pick up the pieces from the decisions that are about to be made, so let us make sure we give them every opportunity to take this fantastic industry forward in a manner that delivers for all of society’s needs.
I look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible at Holyrood on Thursday 28 November to deliver our message loud and clear to Scottish Government.
Martin C. Kennedy, President NFU Scotland