IN THE absence of any clear political vision for the future of UK agriculture after Brexit, it is to the credit of NFU Scotland that it has rolled up its sleeves and started grinding out its own detailed policy proposals, in the perhaps not entirely unrealistic hope that some befuddled civil servant, bereft of guidance from above, will quietly cut-and-paste the union's helpful missives into Westminster's official plan.

Wisely too, NFUS led this week by proposing the possible positives of Brexit, rather than identifying yet more negatives. It truly would put a silver lining on things if farming's regulatory burden could be pared down by common sense and local finesse, to produce the same great nutritional and environmental outcomes, without all the pointless and expensive box-ticking.

But as this last week of high-level headbutting between Theresa May and Boris Johnson has shown, the debate has yet to move beyond the great ideological chasms still dividing the Conservative government, with aspirations varying wildly between a Brexit so soft that it will barely make a difference, to the hard option that would rip up every regulation, good or bad, and let the global market sort out who survives. Where are our 'middle way' politicians when we need them?

Time to deal with jaagsiekte

Jaagsiekte or OPA has been a problem in sheep for many years and one which has baffled scientists for decades. With no accurate test, no vaccine and no cure, surely now is the time for the Scottish Government to invest heavily in the future of so many Scottish farmers who rely on sheep not only as some sort of an income – albeit one which is fast diminishing – but also on an industry sector which maintains the appearance and wellbeing of our countryside, which so many come to visit.

Contrary to popular belief, the disease has been found in all sheep breeds, and while the lungs of sheep can be scanned to trace tumours which will detect most of the animals carrying the virus, a much more accurate test now has to be found to safeguard the future of Scotland's hills and uplands.