LEADERS from across Scotland’s farming and rural sector are being urged to engage with the National Council of Rural Advisers brought together by the Scottish Government to consider the future of Scottish agricultural policy.

However, there was a lukewarm reception from the industry's elected representatives, who made it clear that their willingness to engage with the council did not necessarily mean that they accepted it as the key route to achieving their policy ambitions.

The invite was sent out at the beginning of this week by rural secretary Fergus Ewing, who formally announced the creation of the council at June's Royal Highland Show. He wants the new council to provide the Scottish Government with advice on not only leaving the EU, but also make recommendations on future rural policy and support to drive a vibrant, sustainable, inclusive rural economy.

The council line up has been confirmed as Lorne Crerar and Alison Milne, who will act as co-chairs, Archie Gibson, David Sulman, James Graham, Sarah Simpson, Alan Laidlaw, Marion McCormick, John Kinnaird, Henry Graham, Jim McLaren, Lynn Mann, Sarah Allison and Jackie Brierton.

The chairman of the National Sheep Association in Scotland, John Fyall, said: “We will discuss this fully at our committee meeting on August 18.

“While we welcome the opportunity to engage with the council, it is very much a think tank and how it all fits in is not entirely clear to me at this stage. At the end of the day NSA Scotland, along with the other stakeholders, are the elected bodies tasked with devising future agriculture policies affecting Scotland and we hope to be sitting round the table when final decisions are taken.”

NFUS president Andrew McCornick said: “NFU Scotland is fully committed to creating a future agricultural policy over the next decade that will successfully negotiate Brexit, capitalise on new market opportunities and move Scotland’s farmers and crofters to a position of sustained profitability.

“That ambition dovetails with the challenging remit that Scottish Government has set this group. The 13 members have a huge depth of experience, knowledge and vision and we have already had the opportunity to meet and talk with many of them since the council was announced at the Highland.

“Since then the union has been on the front foot and embarked on a tour of more than 30 agricultural shows across Scotland where we have met and received valuable feedback on our discussion document – ‘Change – a new agricultural policy for Scotland post-Brexit’ – from hundreds of members, stakeholders and politicians alike, establishing the policies that we think Scotland farmers and crofters will want in the future,” he added.

A spokesman for the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers said: “We are fully aware of the new council, as a stakeholder organisation, and will be discussing its aims and objectives at a forthcoming executive meeting of the association.”

Mr Ewing's letter to stakeholders states: “Rural development is critical to driving our rural economy as well as protecting and enhancing our natural environment. Given this broad remit it is essential that the council engages with all parts of our rural communities; drawing on your expertise to aid the development of their thinking; this is where we need your help.”