WISHFUL THINKING

It would have been pleasing to comment on the Scudamore Report on Scotland’s handling of last year’s English foot-and-mouth outbreak as – job done; regionalisation will be the route adopted in any future disease outbreak! However, the outcome of the review, issued this week, makes a total of 55 recommendations, with 13 being on regionalisation, five being of a high priority.

IMPORTANT LAUNCHES

On the political front, the 2008 show marked the launch of two important Scottish Government initiatives – that of the launch of Scotland’s national food and drink policy and that of Scotland’s Environmental And Rural Services(SEARS).

ALL OUR THOUGHTS...

Sadly, this year’s Royal Highland Show will remain long in the memory as the event where little Ben Craggs met an untimely and tragic death.

CUT IN INTEREST RATES AIDS FARMERS FACING TOUGH TIMES

The latest 0.25% interest rate cut, taking the Bank of England rate to 5% – the lowest since November 2006 – is welcome news for farmers but, says Paul Healy, Lloyds TSB regional agricultural manager for Scotland, it does not reveal the whole picture.

	SHEAR MADNESS.....?
	The Romney Shears sheep shearing contest has been scrapped from Kent County Show because there is a possibility that the clippers might harm the ewes. Farmers have hit out at animal welfare activists who cited ‘sheep rights’ to complain to the organisers of the Kent County Show about the annual shearing contest.