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			<title><![CDATA[Opinion]]></title>
			<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/cmlink/opinion-1.931656?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
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			<lastBuildDate>Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:38:06 +0000</lastBuildDate>

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										<category><![CDATA[TSF/Opinion]]></category>
							<category><![CDATA[TSF/Columnists]]></category>
							<category><![CDATA[TSF/Letters]]></category>
							<category><![CDATA[TSF/Euro Notebook]]></category>
				   
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Cheated out of holding]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/cheated-out-of-holding-1.1146191?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[Sir, – It was sad to read your recent reports and correspondence on the decline of tenant farming.   It can be no coincidence that there is a pattern of long established estates being bought up by the super rich for whom estate ownerships provides a licence to play with guns and who see tenants as an impediment to their sporting pleasure.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1146191</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:38:06 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[No ‘cause for concern’]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/no-cause-for-concern-1.1146190?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – You will no doubt be as shocked and bewildered as we were to discover that John Scott Meat (Paisley) Ltd has been classified by the FSA as a ‘Cause for Concern’.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1146190</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:37:04 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[No micro-management]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/no-micro-management-1.1146189?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – While it was good to see Jim Walker’s kind remarks about me (January 14), I must put him right on his accusation that I wish to micro-manage the industry. In fact, that is the last thing I want to do. ]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1146189</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:36:01 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[The importance of the value of livestock]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/the-importance-of-the-value-of-livestock-1.1145275?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – A few weeks ago you reported on SAC’s findings on the dramatic reduction of stock from the hills over the past few years.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1145275</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:43:04 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Oblivious to danger]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/oblivious-to-danger-1.1145274?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – Whilst I wish Brian Pack every success in tackling red tape, I suspect that nothing significant can happen unless the root cause is addressed. ]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1145274</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:41:52 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Why the feigned surprise at fewer let acres?]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/why-the-feigned-surprise-at-fewer-let-acres-1.1145273?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – Why is there feigned surprise about a reduction in acreage of tenanted farms?]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1145273</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:41:02 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Government’s cheap food policy]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/government-s-cheap-food-policy-1.1144320?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – On the front page of last week’s The Scottish Farmer you report that “Paice defends Defra ambition” on weaning agriculture from support payments, echoes of the same rhetoric made by the previous Labour government.
Why not come clean and tell the truth?]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1144320</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:53:19 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Blissfully naive!]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/blissfully-naive-1.1144319?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – Daye Tucker (letter last week) must look to herself when she uses the word disingenuous. At no time over the last 10 years were the NFUS members asked their views on the ARTB. ]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1144319</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:52:16 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Disingenuous Tucker]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/disingenuous-tucker-1.1144318?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – The point in Daye Tucker’s letter, January 7, escaped me, other than to note that she herself was disingenuous in signing off with only a reference to her proud NFUS role rather than including her directorship of Scottish Land and Estates, as I believe the late SLF, SEBG and SRPBA are now known.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1144318</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:51:23 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Harnessing the power of the panda!]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/harnessing-the-power-of-the-panda-1.1142610?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[HERE'S THE deal. In one fell swoop the Scottish farming industry could become a mecca for tourists, create employment, save the planet and make a wad of wonga into the bargain.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1142610</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Fri, 6 Jan 2012 15:22:15 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Politicians’ hidden agenda]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/politicians-hidden-agenda-1.1142410?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – Douglas MacSkimming’s article ‘The hills are alive’, (perhaps to the sound of music, but I would have thought ‘The silence of the lambs’ would be a more descriptive).
While the SAC’s report implies it is entirely due to economics, however it does not take into account the hidden agenda of the politicians and the Sir Humphrey Appleby’s of the civil services.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1142410</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:10:53 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Who pays the cost?]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/who-pays-the-cost-1.1142409?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – Having recently attended a meeting organised by the Scottish Government and SAC regarding BVD, I would like to get other farmers’ reactions to the proposals.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1142409</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:09:46 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Naivety on the right to buy]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/naivety-on-the-right-to-buy-1.1142408?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[Sir, – As a farm tenant who is a member of the NFUS and the STFA, it was with a combination of dismay and disbelief that I read the article on the front page of December 3 issue of The Scottish Farmer.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1142408</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 5 Jan 2012 11:08:48 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[NFUS in the wrong camp!]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/opinion/nfus-in-the-wrong-camp-1.1140968?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[Sir, – In response to Gordon Davidson’s article  ‘Landlords love NFUS’, it should now be clear to all tenants who are eagerly wanting the ARTB that the NFUS is firmly in the same camp as SLE. ]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1140968</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:07:14 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Be careful what you wish for]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/opinion/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-1.1140967?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[Sir – Ironic isn’t it? In last week’s ssue of The Scottish Farmer are a letter and a story that clearly demonstrate that you have to be careful what you wish for.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1140967</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:06:01 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Silly tenancy suggestion]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/silly-tenancy-suggestion-1.1139907?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[Sir, – Having made a few discreet telephone enquires, I have ascertained that Mr Wood (re letter The SF of  November 19) inherited one of the best livestock farms in the South-west of Scotland. Despite that, he sold it a few years later.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1139907</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:02:57 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Drop cynicism on charity work]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/drop-cynicism-on-charity-work-1.1139906?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[Sir, – with regard to the letter ‘Cheap stunt from NFUS’ (Nov 26 issue); a), surely any donation to charity is laudable; and b), the more members and, therefore membership fees that the NFUS has, then the better able they are to fight the corner of farming in Scotland. In these uncertain times we need NFUS more and more.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1139906</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:01:47 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Seeking advice]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/seeking-advice-1.1139902?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – I am a 52-year-old tenant farmer with 20 years left on my lease.
The farm carries 800 ewes and 40 cows and I have the lease of the whole estate’s 10,000 acres.]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1139902</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:00:38 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[NFUS calls for restructuring of EID rules]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/nfus-calls-for-restructuring-of-eid-rules-1.1139898?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[An open letter to Richard Lochhead:
Sir, – The present frustration and anger in the sheep sector has been triggered by uncertainty over compliance standards, the variable performance of readers at CCPs and often poor tag performance. ]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1139898</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:59:32 +0000</pubDate>
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	     	<title><![CDATA[Entitled to an explanation]]></title>
	     	<link>http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/entitled-to-an-explanation-1.1138788?localLinksEnabled=false</link>
	     	<description><![CDATA[SIR, – John McLellan’s account of a cross-compliance inspection raises a number of questions. ]]></description>
	     	<guid isPermaLink="false">1.1138788</guid>
	     	<pubDate>Thu, 8 Dec 2011 10:06:37 +0000</pubDate>
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