At today’s NFU Scotland Annual Conference and AGM in Glasgow, Deputy CEO and Head of Policy Jonnie Hall launched the Union’s 2026 Manifesto, outlining a clear vision for a profitable, sustainable, and resilient future for Scottish farming, crofting, and rural communities. The two-day event features speeches from First Minister John Swinney MSP, UK Government Minister Kirsty McNeill MP, and Baroness Minette Batters.
Speaking at the event Jonnie Hall said:
"Scotland’s farmers and crofters are the backbone of our rural economy, our national identity, and our food security. They manage more than three-quarters of Scotland’s land, producing high-quality food, shaping our landscapes, safeguarding biodiversity, and supporting climate ambitions. But the next decade will bring profound change. The next Scottish Government faces a critical choice: invest in our food producers or risk irreversible loss of productive capacity, rural jobs, and environmental outcomes. This Manifesto sets out clear, practical actions to ensure our industry can flourish, unlock economic growth, and secure a profitable, sustainable, and resilient future for Scottish agriculture."
The 2026 Manifesto builds on NFU Scotland’s Policy Strategy and its five themed sub-strategies, and represents the priorities of farmers and crofters across all sectors – from extensive upland livestock systems and island crofts to lowland dairy and beef finisher units, arable farms, horticulture, poultry, pigs, and mixed enterprises. It also supports Scotland’s wider priorities, including economic growth, food security, climate targets, and environmental stewardship.
Key asks from the Manifesto include:
- Secure Funding and Investment: Multi-annual, ring-fenced budgets; direct support for active farming and crofting; capital investment for infrastructure, resilience, and new entrants; and transparent reporting on spending and outcomes.
- Fair Transition to New Agricultural Support: Co-designed schemes, phased changeover, fairer eligibility definitions, and simplified, proportionate compliance.
- Food Security and Fair Supply Chains: National production targets, prioritisation of Scottish produce in public procurement, fair treatment by processors and retailers, and support for exports and market development.
- Deliver for Climate and Nature: Balanced land-use policy with food production at the core, practical species management, funding for environmental actions and low-carbon technologies, protection of prime agricultural land, and fair reward for upland, hill, and crofting systems.
- World-Class Animal and Plant Health, Innovation, Skills, and Rural Communities: Enhanced surveillance and response, tackling veterinary shortages, applied research, support for genetic technologies, digital connectivity, new entrant opportunities, skills and apprenticeships, and rural infrastructure investment.
- Labour, Regulation, and Trade: Seasonal worker schemes fit for Scotland, simplified farm regulations, proportionate inspections, coordinated audits, protection of Scottish standards in trade deals, and investment in export opportunities and branding.
Concluding the launch, President Andrew Connon emphasised the urgency of the asks:
"The next Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament has a clear choice: back Scotland’s food producers with the funding, policies, and support they need – or risk the irreversible loss of productive capacity, rural jobs, and environmental progress. Our Manifesto provides a practical and deliverable roadmap for action. Now is the time to act, to ensure Scottish agriculture can thrive for generations to come.
NFU Scotland’s 2026 Manifesto provides a blueprint for partnership with the next Scottish Government, ensuring that profitable, sustainable farming and crofting remain central to national policy and a driver of Scotland’s economy, environment, and rural communities.”
Notes to editors:
The full 2026 Manifesto can be read
here
Ends
Contact Megan Williams on 07920 018619