Farm minister Richard Lochhead could lose the support of NFU Scotland if he fails to deliver the right outcomes in the new Common Agricultural Policy (Cap).
“He [Lochhead] knows what he has got to do to have our support,” said the union’s chief executive Scott Walker last night.
He said the union will no longer support the farm minister if he delivers the wrong outcomes in the new Cap when it is announced next Wednesday (June 11).
The farming body has called for a three-region model under the new system, a transition in the switch from historic to area-based payments and measures to ensure only active farmers are supported.
“What we have said to Lochhead and his officials is that there are certain things he needs to do for Scottish agriculture if he wants the support of NFU Scotland,” said Mr Walker.
Earlier this week the union launched a petition calling for a transition period when switching to an area-based payments system.
This came amid fears Mr Lochhead will opt for an immediate switch to area-based payments – industry insiders claim more than 50% of respondents to the Pillar 1 Cap consultation voted in favour of this move.
Meanwhile, a group of north-east farmers and agricultural businesses – including abattoirs, auctioneers and machinery dealers – is marching on Holyrood today to meet with politicians to argue the case for a transitional period to area-based payments.
NFU Scotland’s north-east regional chairman Roddy Catto – a dairy farmer at Hillhead of Muirton, Whitecairns, near Aberdeen – said the group was going to raise awareness of the knock-on effect an immediate switch would have on the wider rural community.
“If we end up with this cliff edge I can see it being a disaster,” said Mr Catto.
“Richard Lochhead has to start making the decisions and stop listening to the guys that are telling him that everything he is trying to do cannot be done and tell them to go away and think about it and get it done.”