Scottish Government must start delivering information on future policy direction now if it is to curb growing anger and frustration and provide farmers and crofters with any degree of confidence going forward writes NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy.

Expressing his deep disappointment at the lack of useful detail in the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Agriculture Bill, launched this week, he said:

“The Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), which I co-chair with the Cabinet Secretary, was established to support implementation of policy reform, incorporating the relevant recommendations from the farmer-led groups to design a new system of support for the production of sustainable, high-quality food and which also addresses the need for further emission reduction and greater biodiversity.

“I have been crystal clear from the outset, my tenure as co-chair is a position I would relinquish immediately if the direction of travel being taken was not serving the needs of farmers and crofters.  At this moment that position gives me the greatest opportunity to influence the Scottish Government agriculture policy to be introduced from 2025 to ensure that it will deliver a profitable future.

“It is well documented that NFU Scotland, me as its President and our Board of Directors, share huge frustration alongside grassroot members all the way to former officeholders, on clarity and pace of travel on future policy and the need for producers to see detail rather than more consultation. As this is so fundamentally important to our future, my phone has always been on to discuss progress and I have always been available to members and stakeholders across the country.

“We were openly critical about the Scottish Government’s Agricultural Bill consultation earlier this week.  Instead of more plans and declarations, we need a policy that supports farm output, supports the measures that will help us cut our carbon footprint and supports the measures that will enhance biodiversity.  The work has already been done on this by numerous groups and through previous consultations.  Production is falling and we need the Scottish Government to say how it is going to halt this decline and give farmers the confidence to keep going for the future.

“We know the direction we need to go in and we know the measures that can help transform individual farming and crofting businesses.  

“Next week, the Cabinet Secretary, will be meeting with the NFU Scotland Board of Directors and the only things on the agenda to discuss are Scottish Government’s response to astronomical input costs and future policy and delivery.”