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First Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity to Join NFUS President for Key Debate at Agriscot.

NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy will use seminar platform to mainly focus on funding for Scottish agriculture.

In light of the recent UK budget and challenges facing the industry, NFU Scotland and AgriScot have collaborated and secured the First Minister John Swinney MSP to accompany Union President Martin Kennedy on stage for its key debate at Scotland’s leading agricultural winter event, on Wednesday 13 November at 10am.  They will also be joined by the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP for the seminar which will be chaired by the Chair of AgriScot, Robert Neill.

President Martin Kennedy will use the platform to draw the Ministers’ attention, once again, to all that farmers and crofters deliver: high-quality food production, climate and nature restoration, and thriving rural communities.  In doing so he aims to send a crystal-clear message about the importance of securing future, multi-annual, ring-fenced funding for Scottish agriculture and that will deliver for Scotland’s economy, rural communities and the environment.  In the short, medium and long term.

The UK Government delivered a budget on 30 October that threatens food production, family farming businesses and the environment.  The responsibility for delivering future agricultural funding has been passed solely to the Scottish Government.

Despite an increase in the block grant for Scotland, the loss of a ring-fenced, multi-annual commitment on future funding is a significant blow for the sector and of major concern to Scottish farmers, crofters and wider agricultural industry, ahead of the Scottish Government’s budget on 4 December. 

As there is no longer a ring-fence around agricultural funding, the case for support must be made alongside every other Scottish Government portfolios – health, education, social care, etc. That will be extremely challenging. Nothing can be assumed, and everything is to play for.  The Union will be seeking assurances that there will be no ‘cliff-edge’ reduction in agricultural funding – something the industry has been promised on numerous occasions.

The seminar is sure to present lively debate and draw crowds.  Event attendees are asked to note that space will be limited. To enable as many people as possible to watch proceedings, AgriScot organisers will be recording and streaming the seminar, along with all other seminars on the day.

Later in the day, at 1pm, The Scottish Dairy Hub and Kite Consultancy are running their seminar and popular question and answer event. This year’s panel includes Richard Thomson, Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator, DEFRA; Chris Walkland, Agricultural journalist and milk market analyst, Paul Grant, Scottish Dairy Growth Board, and Alex Jack, Dairy farmer. 

Notes for Editors

  • For all NFU Scotland media enquiries including the Dairy Hub Seminar contact media@nfus.org.uk
  • All press wishing to attend AgriScot are required to register and will need a press pass to access the press room, and any ministerial huddles. To register, please get in touch with the event’s media and press team, via agriscot@janecraigie.com so they can share information on press attendance.
  • Any press requests to speak to First Minister John Swinney should be directed to Scottish Government Comms contact Jack Matthews // jack.matthews@gov.scot 07468 755980.
  • NFU Scotland have created a Budget Information Hub which provides useful information, resources and links this can be found at www.nfus.org.uk 
  • NFU Scotland is organising a rally to take place outside Holyrood on Thursday 28 November to raise awareness of all that Scottish agriculture delivers for the economy, rural communities and the environment, as it puts its case to Scottish Parliament and Government for the need to secure a ring-fenced, multi annual funding commitment.  More details to follow.

Ends

Contact Diana McGowan on 07920 018619

Author: Diana McGowan

Date Published:

News Article No.: 92/24


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About The Author

Diana McGowan

Diana joined NFU Scotland in October 2019 bringing with her over 20 years work experience in communication roles in tourism, events and forestry in both private and public sectors. She is now a key member of the Communications team and is Editor of the Union’s flagship Scottish Farming Leader magazine.

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