Farm leaders have hit out at government over its decision to stop funding the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC).
This week the organisation, which has more than 3,500 members, revealed it had lost £66,000 in government grant funding.
Its chief executive, Penny Montgomerie, said this was the first time in nearly 70 years that the association had not received financial support from government.
She said the loss of the grant would reduce the association’s annual income by 13%.
NFU Scotland said farmers were horrified and deeply unhappy about the news.
In a post on its Facebook page, the union said: “Many NFU Scotland members are deeply unhappy about the announcement that educational funding from Scottish Government is to be withdrawn from the Scottish Association of Young Farmers. The horrified response to the announcement simply confirms the affinity and affection that Union members have for the Young Farmers movement and the role it has to play in the rural community.
“NFU Scotland has had several discussions with SAYFC in the past 24 hours. Once the Association has had time to reflect on the decision, and identified the best plan on how to fill the funding gap going forward, if the Union can support and assist then we would be more than delighted to help.”
Meanwhile, Troup councillor and former young farmers’ club member Hamish Partridge has written an open letter to farm minister Richard Lochhead demanding an explanation for the funding cut.
In his letter to Mr Lochhead, the north-east councillor said: “This support as you will be aware provides a vast amount of experience as well as personal development opportunities for individual members aged 14 to 30 years and goes towards helping young people with rural skills and knowledge and hopefully attract many to work within the rural industries from farming, forestry, game-keeping etc.
“With our rural industries suffering in many ways and really struggling to attract younger people to take jobs, continue in family businesses or even start a new business I find it really disappointing and concerning that the Scottish Government has decided now to withdraw this vital support.”
SAYFC had hoped to receive funding from the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund, which has awarded £12million to 116 voluntary organisations for 2016/17.
Successful applicants for funding include: the Aberlour Child Care Trust, the John Muir Trust, Save the Children, Carers Trust Scotland and Dyslexia Scotland.