Months of deliberation over the future direction of Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) in Scotland are set to come to an end next week.
As Richard Lochhead prepares to make the biggest decision in his career next Wednesday, the only thing we can guarantee is that there will be tears somewhere in the sector.
Like a herd of coos fighting their way to the trough for feed, every Tom, Dick and farming Harry has been shouting last minute demands at the minister over how the new Cap should be implemented.
The key bone of contention, and something which has clearly put the fear in NFU Scotland, is whether or not Lochhead will opt for an immediate move from historic to area-based payments.
Will Lochhead base his decision on his consultation with 50% of respondents in favour of an immediate move? Or will be bow to pressure from the union amid fears he will lose its support if he doesn’t adopt a transitional period?
The other key issue, and union demand, is a splitting of the rough grazing region to create a three region area-based payments system.
There’s no doubt union leaders will be disappointed with farming stalwart Brian Pack’s assertion this week that a three region model will do more harm than good.
Meanwhile, the former head of the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association Angus McCall has claimed that “open, healthy, informed and rational debate” on the Absolute Right to Buy (ARTB) hasn’t yet happened.
In an inflammatory comment piece he says that supporters of the ARTB are portrayed as a “vocal radical minority”, but instead they are the “silent majority”.
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