Politicians and agriculture leaders have been urged to make the most of the EU’s recent Common Agricultural Policy deal for the good of farming and crofting.
NFU Scotland said the Cap and limited budget can be made to work to best effect. The plea to the Scottish Government was yesterday echoed by Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson during a debate at Holyrood.
Union president Nigel Miller said: “Scotland’s agricultural support system is about to change significantly, and farmers and crofters need to know soon – in so far as is possible – how this is likely to affect them.
“We know that money is tight and is likely to become even tighter, so we shall have to be smart about how we direct it.
“This means steering direct support towards productive land while determining a sufficient level of coupled payment to livestock producers, especially those on less productive land, in order to prevent de-stocking.”
MSPs yesterday backed a motion which called for the UK’s extra farming subsidy – worth a total of £194million – to be allocated to Scotland.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The only reason that the UK qualifies for the uplift is because of Scotland’s low payments under the current system. Therefore it is only fair that this additional cash is allocated to Scotland in its entirety.”
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott used the debate to highlight that falling numbers of sheep and cattle are undermining Scotland’s food and drink strategy.
He urged ministers not to view the debate about the future of Cap “through the prism of independence but rather to see it through the needs of Scotland’s farmers and crofters”.
Labour MSP Claire Baker questioned whether the SNP could guarantee that payments to farmers would continue during EU membership negotiations if Scots back independence.
Mr Fergusson argued ministers must focus on how to get the maximum benefit from a reduced Cap budget. “We all know that the overall EU budget has been reduced. And the question should not be about how much blame and vitriol we can pour over the UK Government, it should be about how we can maximise the benefit of a smaller pot of money.”