AS WE once again approach the great showpiece for Scottish agriculture that is the Highland Show, we can reflect on a year of unprecedented political upheaval that started at the very same event last year.

It was at Ingliston, on the Friday of the show, that the first sensational news that the country had voted to leave the European Union became apparent. It was a hard blow for many farmers to take – though many, understandably frustrated by ScotGov’s embarrassing IT failure, voted to leave the unity of Europe for that reason alone.

Would they vote for it now? I suspect, that, as at last week’s General Election, they would have changed allegiance to a more measured approach. By now, it is apparent that basing a farming vote on a troubled IT system, which had little back-up – and which, it has to be pointed out, had actually nothing to do with the EU – was one of protest.

That is never the way to move a democracy forward. But, then again, Theresa May’s decision to call for a snap election was also based on false assumptions and the erroneous rhetoric of her pollsters.

Oh how the mighty fall ... and oh how the lowly suffer! It was ever thus. So now we are left in a political limbo across the UK.

But, for farming at least, there are some positives. The Tories’ rekindled vote in Scotland has more than a tinge of rural support – and now those who voted to change the political Westminster-based map of Scotland will want their pound of flesh.

The Scottish Tories already know this and, never mind the DUP in Ulster holding sway with its 10 MPs, I am pretty sure that Ruth Davidson with Scotland’s 13 will make sure her voice is heard a little bit louder than theirs.

While Mrs May may regret ever having called the election, it might just actually have worked in favour of the farming industry’s wants and aspirations for the kind of Brexit they need and desire.

We have to take cognisance of the fact the almost half of all UK lamb ends up on the continent, that we enjoy a free trade with the rest of Europe with arable products and that this country needs the invaluable support of transient labour resources to keep it running.

A hard Brexit would sever a lot of ties, built up over many years, with established trading links. And while this industry is famed for being resilient, to start again from scratch would be like pushing the dung heap uphill with no tread on your wellies and an icy floor!

On the positive side, too, it means that there will be no shortage of talking points at next week’s Royal Highland. Let’s hope one of them is the weather – but for all the right reasons!