NFU Scotland will tackle two of the biggest issues facing Scottish agriculture at its annual council meeting, taking place near Perth next week (Wednesday 30 October).

With the Scottish Government’s consultation on implementation of new CAP rules expected to be published soon, the meeting will be addressed by representatives of English and Irish farming unions on how the CAP Reform package is progressing in their countries.

Land reform and the tenancy review are also on the agenda.  Scottish Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced his intention to review tenant farming legislation and a Land Reform Review Group is already established.  Dr Stephen Pathirana, Deputy Director of the recently-created Land and Tenancy Reform Unit in Scottish Government, will address the meeting.

In addition, the chairs of all the union’s commodity and technical committees will lay out their priorities and workstreams to the members.

Speaking ahead of the Council Meeting, NFU Scotland President Nigel Miller said:
“With Scotland's consultations on future CAP implementation and rural development measures looming, it is worth taking time to see how other nation’s are responding.

“In England, where direct support is already being delivered on an area basis, we can explore how farmers have reacted to that change but also look at how proposals to shift funds from direct support to rural development measures are being received by farmers there.  In Ireland, where future support arrangements are likely to include an element of coupling to livestock, we also want to look at the 'Irish Tunnel' model on how we might manage the transition of existing business to the CAP support new regime.

“Talk of land and tenancy reform has been dominating the headlines and a planned ministerial-led review of Agricultural Holdings legislation has been announced.  The whole industry is keen to see more information on the remit of the review, the appointment of review group members and the timetable involved.

“To help inform members, Dr Pathirana will outline the consultation plans and survey work that Scottish Government is undertaking as part of that reform process, so we are clearer on how we engage with it as a Union.”  

Notes to Editors

• NFU Scotland’s annual autumn (Council) meeting, will take place in the SNH Conference Centre, Battleby, Redgorton near Perth PH1 3EW on Wednesday 30 October.    The event will start at 11.00am, with registration and coffee from 10.30am, a buffet lunch will be available and the meeting will conclude at 3.00pm.
• The Agenda for the meeting is as follows:

-    11.00am - Introduction by Nigel Miller, President of NFU Scotland
-    11.05am - Presentation from Fintan Conway, Irish Farmers’ Association and Philip Bicknell, NFU England & Wales on CAP payment models being considered and how greening is to be implemented.
-    11.45am  - Panel Discussion - Fintan Conway, Philip Bicknell, Jonathan Hall (Director of Policy, NFU Scotland) - Chaired by Nigel Miller
-    12.30pm   -  Dr  Stephen  Pathirana,  Deputy Director of the Land and Tenancy Reform  Unit, Scottish  Government  to  outline  how  it is to conduct its Agricultural Holdings Review
-    12.50pm  -  Short  Q&A  with  Dr Stephen Pathirana - Chaired by Niger Miller
-    1.00pm – Lunch
-    1.50pm  -  Committee  Chairman  Session  1  - Milk, Environment and Land Use, Less Favoured Areas,  Pigs & Poultry  -  to  be  chaired  by  Rob  Livesey,  Vice President of NFU Scotland
-    2.25pm  -  Committee  Chairman Session 2 - Livestock, Legal and Technical, Combinable Crops, Specialist Crops  - to  be  chaired  by  Allan  Bowie, Vice President of NFU Scotland
-    3.00pm – Close

• This event is open to all members of NFU Scotland.  If you would like to attend, contact Diane on 0131 472 4023 and leave your name and membership number or Email: diane.burnside@nfus.org.uk
• If members of the press would like to attend, contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006 or Email: bob.carruth@nfus.org.uk

Ends

Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006