In this job evidence is everything, writes Crops Policy Manager David Michie.
Responding directly to farmers and crofters, he states: “We ran our first producer intention survey in late 2022, to give us evidence. It was a great success, with over 550 responses from you. It gave us information about farm business planning for cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, dairy, combinable crops, potatoes, fruit, and vegetable enterprises.
“You’ve taken time to fill out the form, but so what? What will we do with what you have told us?
“We will use your responses for lots of things. It will help our policy lobbying, political and industry engagement, and partnership working. But we will mainly use it to keep us in NFU Scotland’s policy team right.
“We need to understand what is going on, and what you are planning to do. We can best represent you when we best understand you.”
Looking at his specific policy area, David adds: “So, what do the results say about you, our members who grow crops? Inputs are expensive, so it is no surprise the results showed that making best use of resources is important to you.
“To improve resilience, respondents are interested in reducing pesticide use, planning nutrient management, and increasing their use of organic manures (livestock and non-livestock manures).”
In summary:
- Increasing pesticide use was not of interest to most combinable crop and potato growing respondents. Most respondents are already reducing pesticide use, or are interested in reducing pesticides, to improve resilience.
- When asked about tillage, most combinable crops growers were interested in reducing tillage, or are already reducing tillage.
- Most combinable crop and potato growing members are nutrient management planning to improve resilience. A very large proportion of combinable crop growing members are increasing their use of organic manures. Given the high cost of fertiliser, this comes as no surprise.
“This suggests you want to change or have already changed practice, to make better use of resources. This brings business, economic, and environmental advantages.
“The market, supply chain, and politicians are all looking for improvements in environmental performance. We now have evidence that Scottish farmers are already doing their bit for the environment. And are interested in doing more. It is crucial that supporting policy from government is in place to move intention to action using the right incentives.
“We are working with farmers and growers to try new things and address the barriers and risk associated with changing the way you farm, for example, by reducing pesticides. The Scottish Voluntary Initiative is a key example of this, and collaboration with other initiatives are also underway.
“Our evidence will help market and supply chain engagement. It can help their understanding of what you, our members, are already doing and want to do, showing that farmers are already working towards meeting future market requirements.
“On potatoes, there were more responses from seed than ware growers. It came as no surprise that to improve resilience, most respondents are interested in selling into different markets, and the second largest number of respondents are already selling into different markets. Seed growers who previously supplied countries in the EU have had no choice but to find alternative markets, after Brexit prevented them from selling into the existing (and large) EU market. We continue to lobby for reciprocal seed potato trade with the EU.”
Looking to the future, David writes: “The next survey will be out in the end of 2023. The policy team, and their working groups and committees will refine the questions from 2022 and think about how we use the results. Evidence is everything.
“Survey results are important to sense-check our positions: we must listen to everyone, not just the vocal minority. Thank you for providing us with evidence and supporting our work.”