The Cairngorms National Park Authority is calling on farmers in and around the park to share their views on the impact of Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) reforms.
The authority, which has more than 200 farms within its boundaries, wants to know how farmers’ businesses are being impacted by the changes in subsidy support.
This follows two letters in the Press and Journal Farming supplement by Ruaridh Ormiston of Ormiston Highlands, Newtonmore.
Mr Ormiston, who rents land within the National Park, spoke of his problems having rented land being taken back in-hand by landlords, meaning he would no longer be able to claim against that land on his Single Application Form (SAF).
In one letter, he wrote: “I know of hill farming businesses that will be unable to claim historic LFASS payments and will not be able to claim their Single Farm Payment because they no longer have the land to do this on and cannot get alternatives.
“Some businesses stand to loose tens of thousands from these changes and that is enough in a fragile sector to cause many businesses to become grossly unprofitable and for people to give up.
Now, a land management adviser at the park – Bruce McConachie – has taken note of Mr Ormiston’s views and wants to gather information from other farmers to report back to government with.
“I thought it might be an idea to use our ties with land managers to try and get an idea of what’s happening within and around the national park,” said Mr McConachie.
“We have the ability to raise things at a policy level with government.”
He said he wasn’t only interested to hear about problems, but wanted to gather information on how people’s land region classifications had been defined and what impact this was having on their payment rates.
“We want to see whether the [subsidy] payments are going up or down so we can inform the Scottish Government on behalf of the guys in the park,” added Mr McConachie.
Mr McConachie can be contacted by email on brucemcconachie@cairngorms.co.uk or by calling 07590 258 613.