Writing
our Manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections in May was challenging – but also very important.
That is not because of a lack of ideas, or even a lack of agreement on what Scottish farming and crofting need. Across NFU Scotland, from our members and committees to the Presidential Team, Board and staff, there is a strong shared understanding of the challenges facing the industry. The challenge lay in ensuring that the future of farming and crofting really does matter to all those with political ambitions and to those that will have such an influence over the future of Scottish agriculture - not just in the next parliamentary term, but for generations.
As a Union, led by our President Andrew Connon, we have a responsibility to the farmers and crofters we represent. That includes articulating their priorities clearly, honestly and credibly as we approach the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026.
As a result,
our Manifesto is not abstract policymaking. It reflects the vital role of farmers and crofters, the frustration many feel at growing uncertainty, and the determination that still runs through Scottish agriculture despite everything it faces.
One of the greatest challenges in developing this Manifesto as a team was the sheer scale of change confronting our industry. Scottish farming and crofting are being asked to adapt to a new agricultural support framework, deliver ambitious climate and nature outcomes, cope with rising costs and labour shortages, and remain competitive in volatile global markets – all at the same time.
Those pressures are not theoretical. Decisions are faced every day about whether to invest, whether to cut back, whether to diversify, or in some cases whether to continue at all. I am very aware that policy choices made in the next parliamentary term will either give farmers and crofters the confidence to plan and invest or push more businesses over the edge.
There was a real challenge in striking the right tone. Working closely with the Presidential team and Board, we needed to be ambitious but grounded. Clear in our asks, but constructive in our approach. Honest about the risks facing the sector, without losing sight of its extraordinary potential. Above all, it had to be credible – not just to politicians but also to our members.
I am proud that our Manifesto does exactly that.
It makes no apology for stating that profitable farming and crofting are essential to delivering Scotland’s wider goals – from food security and economic growth to climate action and biodiversity recovery. Too often, policy debates frame agriculture as a problem to be managed rather than a solution to be supported. Our Manifesto, backed strongly by President Andrew Connon and the wider leadership of the Union, firmly rejects that narrative.
One of the issues I feel most strongly about is the need for long-term certainty. Agricultural businesses do not operate on annual cycles, yet funding and policy decisions too often do. The call for an increased, multi-annual and ring-fenced agricultural budget is not about protecting the status quo. It is about giving farmers and crofters the confidence to invest, innovate and adapt. Without that certainty, all other political and policy ambitions quickly unravel.
Equally important is the principle that farmers and crofters must be viewed as the solution by our policy makers and decision takers from the outset. This is a consistent message from our President, Vice Presidents and policy leadership alike. Policy only works when it is shaped by those expected to deliver it.
There were also moments in developing
our Manifesto that were sobering. Labour shortages, regulatory pressures, species impacts, and the emotional toll these issues take on farming families must not go unsaid – they are essential to acknowledge. Policy cannot be effective if it ignores reality.
Our Manifesto also reflects a shared and deeply held belief across NFU Scotland that food production matters. Scotland’s farmers and crofters manage over three-quarters of the country’s land area and produce food to some of the highest standards in the world. Allowing domestic production to decline through policy neglect would be a profound failure of responsibility. Food security, supply chain resilience and the protection of productive land must be central to the next Scottish Parliament’s priorities.
Looking ahead to May 2026, we believe the next Scottish Government and Parliament will be among the most consequential for agriculture in modern times. Decisions taken between 2026 and 2031 will determine whether Scotland retains a vibrant, productive farming and crofting sector, or whether capacity, skills and confidence continue to drain away.
That is why
our Manifesto is not just a statement of NFU Scotland’s policy priorities, it is a united position from across the Union.
It sets out clearly what farmers and crofters need to deliver for Scotland. It challenges political parties to be honest about the choices ahead. And it offers a constructive, practical blueprint for a profitable, sustainable and resilient future.
With
our Manifesto published at our AGM at the beginning of February, the focus for the Presidential Team, policy staff and regional network now shifts to delivery - ensuring our Manifesto is not just read but is acted upon. NFU Scotland stands ready to work with whoever forms the next Scottish Government – but as a united organisation, we will also hold them to account.
Getting this right is not optional. It is essential – and together, as a Union, we are determined that farmers and crofters across Scotland have the strong, credible voice they deserve as we approach a defining election.