FARMERS NEED ‘coherence and consistency’ from a future agricultural support system for Scotland.

Responding to the Scottish Government’s ‘Stability and Simplicity’ consultation, NFU Scotland this week stressed that a post-CAP policy must look longer term and provide a life plan for Scottish farming. Key asks are the creation of a system which values farming activity over land ownership; and one which would reward the 'huge' and varying contributions made by farmers to all aspects of society.

Detailed within their 62-page submission, the union welcomed the intent of the Scottish Government, but pushed for the debate over the industry’s post-CAP future to be dealt with more swiftly.

“NFUS believes that the proposals within Stability and Simplicity stop short of what is actually required. It is the view of NFUS that the Stability and Simplicity proposals are almost exclusively focused on short to medium term modifications to the operations of the CAP currently delivered in Scotland, in both Pillars 1 and 2. There is little to suggest how Scotland might develop and structure its own agricultural and rural policy for life beyond transition and the CAP itself.”

Union president Andrew McCornick said: “This is an unprecedented period of physical and financial challenge for Scotland’s farmers and crofters, imposing huge personal and business stress on many. It is right that, amid an era of Brexit-fuelled uncertainty, the Scottish Government and NFU Scotland work together to provide a degree of certainty and confidence.

“Agriculture needs a coherent and consistent strategy. A significant change to agricultural and rural policy in Scotland should not be a blunt response to Brexit. That process simply provides the much-needed catalyst for change.”