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Roadshows Fine Tune Policy Priorities

A series of fifteen roadshows and a significant number of branch meetings and AGMs in November and December have helped fine tune NFU Scotland’s policy priorities.

The roadshows from Lauder to Lerwick, Stornoway to Castle Douglas, were attended by members of the Union’s Presidential team – Andrew McCornick, Martin Kennedy and Charlie Adam – as well as Director of Policy Jonnie Hall.



In the summer, NFU Scotland’s Board of Directors identified their ‘Big Six’ six policy priorities - Brexit; Current CAP and support; Supply Chains; Climate Change; Species Management and Land Reform – and these have driven policy workload since then.

Having met with hundreds of members in the past six weeks, the Presidential team received a clear mandate to continue prioritising these areas.

Jonnie Hall said: “There has been a great turnout at these meetings, the discussion has been wide-ranging, and the feedback has been invaluable.

“There was recognition that, beyond Brexit, the industry faces significant challenges and responsibilities tackling the parallel challenges of contributing to the growth of Scotland’s food and drinks sector and making a significant positive contribution to tackling climate change.

“The next decade will be defining, so action is needed now.

“With Brexit now a reality, we need the right settlement from the entire Brexit process.

“To plan, we need consistent, fair and adequate market returns that properly reflect the investment and endeavour of farmers and crofters.

“We need a future support that underpins activity, productivity and environmental delivery and the Union’s policy document: ‘Steps to Change: A New Agricultural Policy for Scotland’ gives us a blueprint to negotiate with Scottish Government on what that policy should look like.

“The development and delivery of that new agricultural policy that supports farmers and crofters as food producers, improves productivity and resilience, and properly rewards the delivery of public goods is key to all this.

“There was also strong and clear support from members that, with some political dust now settling and a new enabling Agriculture Bill going through the Scottish Parliament, the time is right to crack on with real and lasting change through a policy settlement – based on the principles of Steps to Change.

“It must be activity-driven to deliver both productivity gains and environmental outcomes.”  

Ends

Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006

Author: Bob Carruth

Date Published:

News Article No.: 176/19


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About The Author

Bob Carruth

A dairy farmer’s son, I joined NFU Scotland in 1999 after 13 years as an agricultural journalist. Following spells as a regional manager and policy lead on milk, livestock and animal health and welfare, I became Communications Director in 2008.

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