The Scottish Farmer

Cheated out of holding

Sir, – It was sad to read your recent reports and correspondence on the decline of tenant farming. It can be no coincidence that there is a pattern of long established estates being bought up by the super rich for whom estate ownerships provides a licence to play with guns and who see tenants as an impediment to their sporting pleasure.

No ‘cause for concern’

SIR, – You will no doubt be as shocked and bewildered as we were to discover that John Scott Meat (Paisley) Ltd has been classified by the FSA as a ‘Cause for Concern’.

No micro-management

SIR, – While it was good to see Jim Walker’s kind remarks about me (January 14), I must put him right on his accusation that I wish to micro-manage the industry. In fact, that is the last thing I want to do.

The importance of the value of livestock

SIR, – A few weeks ago you reported on SAC’s findings on the dramatic reduction of stock from the hills over the past few years.

Oblivious to danger

SIR, – Whilst I wish Brian Pack every success in tackling red tape, I suspect that nothing significant can happen unless the root cause is addressed.

Why the feigned surprise at fewer let acres?

SIR, – Why is there feigned surprise about a reduction in acreage of tenanted farms?

Government’s cheap food policy

SIR, – On the front page of last week’s The Scottish Farmer you report that “Paice defends Defra ambition” on weaning agriculture from support payments, echoes of the same rhetoric made by the previous Labour government. Why not come clean and tell the truth?

Blissfully naive!

SIR, – Daye Tucker (letter last week) must look to herself when she uses the word disingenuous. At no time over the last 10 years were the NFUS members asked their views on the ARTB.

Disingenuous Tucker

SIR, – The point in Daye Tucker’s letter, January 7, escaped me, other than to note that she herself was disingenuous in signing off with only a reference to her proud NFUS role rather than including her directorship of Scottish Land and Estates, as I believe the late SLF, SEBG and SRPBA are now known.

Politicians’ hidden agenda

SIR, – Douglas MacSkimming’s article ‘The hills are alive’, (perhaps to the sound of music, but I would have thought ‘The silence of the lambs’ would be a more descriptive). While the SAC’s report implies it is entirely due to economics, however it does not take into account the hidden agenda of the politicians and the Sir Humphrey Appleby’s of the civil services.

Who pays the cost?

SIR, – Having recently attended a meeting organised by the Scottish Government and SAC regarding BVD, I would like to get other farmers’ reactions to the proposals.

Naivety on the right to buy

Sir, – As a farm tenant who is a member of the NFUS and the STFA, it was with a combination of dismay and disbelief that I read the article on the front page of December 3 issue of The Scottish Farmer.

NFUS in the wrong camp!

Sir, – In response to Gordon Davidson’s article ‘Landlords love NFUS’, it should now be clear to all tenants who are eagerly wanting the ARTB that the NFUS is firmly in the same camp as SLE.

Be careful what you wish for

Sir – Ironic isn’t it? In last week’s ssue of The Scottish Farmer are a letter and a story that clearly demonstrate that you have to be careful what you wish for.

Silly tenancy suggestion

Sir, – Having made a few discreet telephone enquires, I have ascertained that Mr Wood (re letter The SF of November 19) inherited one of the best livestock farms in the South-west of Scotland. Despite that, he sold it a few years later.

Drop cynicism on charity work

Sir, – with regard to the letter ‘Cheap stunt from NFUS’ (Nov 26 issue); a), surely any donation to charity is laudable; and b), the more members and, therefore membership fees that the NFUS has, then the better able they are to fight the corner of farming in Scotland. In these uncertain times we need NFUS more and more.

Seeking advice

SIR, – I am a 52-year-old tenant farmer with 20 years left on my lease. The farm carries 800 ewes and 40 cows and I have the lease of the whole estate’s 10,000 acres.

NFUS calls for restructuring of EID rules

An open letter to Richard Lochhead: Sir, – The present frustration and anger in the sheep sector has been triggered by uncertainty over compliance standards, the variable performance of readers at CCPs and often poor tag performance.

Entitled to an explanation

SIR, – John McLellan’s account of a cross-compliance inspection raises a number of questions.

Way out of the log-jam

SIR, – In response to Andrew Wood’s letter in the November 19 issue, suggesting dissatisfied tenants should abandon the lands.

Up to the challenge!

SIR, – It was with interest that I read CabSec Richard Lochhead’s letter in last week’s issue about setting the record straight on land ineligible for single farm payment.

Cheap stunt from NFUS

SIR, – The NFUS recruitment drive on Armistice Day was a cheap stunt and does NFUS no credit whatsoever.

Tenancy lessons

SIR, – Recent coverage on the failings of the landlord/tenant system will do little to improve the prospects for the younger generation to get a foot on the farming ladder.

Lochhead sets the record straight

SIR, – Following your report in a recent edition, I feel it’s important to set the record straight about the issues of European disallowance – the penalties the Scottish Government may face over ineligible land.

If you want change ... abandon the land

Sir, – I was surprised to read the anonymous letter regarding Buccleuch Estate, as there is nothing new in what they are doing and it would have been good of the writer to consider all situations, and the people who will drive forward the end results of Buccleuch rented land outcome, regardless of whether they are correct size, condition with suitable equipment or not.

Don’t be misled about Scotland and the EU

SIR, – I write in response to Andrew Gilmour’s ‘misleading’ letter on Scottish independence carried in your edition of November 5.

‘Planning’ for forestry

SIR, – Some time ago, Sandy Millar, of Baidlandhill, Dalry, wrote about forestry matters. He was suggesting that forestry development should need planning permission. After a journey to Inverness last weekend, I think it certainly does.

Equality needed indeed

Sir, – In response to JR Sawdon’s letter in last week’s issue of The SF, equality is indeed needed. There are good and bad landlords as there are tenants.

Who owns ‘improvments’

SIR, – The facts regarding tenants’ improvements and who carried them out, are perfectly illustrated by the following case taken from ‘Decisions on the Court of Session’ 1800-1878.

A free country for everyone?

SIR, – Sandy Henderson got it right! It is not always a good thing when he starts thinking, especially when he does not complete the process. Except he failed to ask himself, or acknowledge, why there is a large value difference between tenanted land and that with vacant possession.

Right to buy must be offered

SIR, – The continuing arrogance of the landlords and estates is quite staggering. They are holding a gun to the government’s head, threatening that if we don’t stop talking about the absolute right to buy they will lock up even more land.

In the ‘chaumer’!

SIR, – To be a tenant or not, that is the question? Whatever the merits or otherwise of the pressure for tenants’ right to buy, in the short term this present chorus serves to highlight another issue that may yet concern all landholders.

Where’s the TFF view?

SIR, – The weight of The SF’s mailbag over the past few weeks is surely testimony to the need for more democracy and transparency on the subject of landlord tenancy matters?

We have to do the best for Scotland

Sir, – There is nothing better than money and land ownership to bring out the best in people’s personalities, ambitions and objectives. Indeed Daye Tucker encapsulated the whole issue, by referencing, as a feeding frenzy.

Time for a real impact

Sir, – Peter Graham’s letter in last week’s issue puts the argument for land reform more eloquently than anything I’ve read in these columns over that last few months.

Tenants need fresh thinking – not old divisions

SIR, – I expected fresh thinking from a very new Parliamentary Committee on Rural Affairs’ chairman.

Right to buy is a ‘must’

SIR, – The continuing arrogance of landlords and estate owners is quite staggering. They are holding a gun to the government’s head, threatening that if we don’t stop talking about the ‘absolute right to buy’ they will lock up even more land.

‘Unfairness’ on rents cuts both ways

SIR, – I can understand and respect your correspondent wishing to remain anonymous (‘Returns belong to those that improve the land’, Oct 1, issue).

Land reform advisory group must be set up

SIR, – It was encouraging to read the letters re land use in Scotland. Victor Clements is correct when he says that we do not want a Scottish government telling us what to do with every acre of land. That is why I want Richard Lochhead to set up a group of people to advise the government on what is required.

Farmers’ life blood just a ‘playground’ to landowners

Sir, – Are we a grown up nation or not?

Decade of failings for tenants

Sir, – It grieves me to read Nigel Miller’s letter in last week’s The Scottish Farmer. I don’t think ever before has an NFU president turned his back on so many of his members.

NFUS blinkered on right to buy debate

Sir, – I was outraged by the letter from Nigel Miller in last week’s letters column. What a short sighted and blinkered view of land reform, from someone who has been elected to represent the farmers of Scotland.

When in a hole... stop digging

Sir, – During my regular browse through The Scottish Farmer last week I was rather intrigued to find my dirty washing featuring in a letter from a rather confusingly named Mr Tennant.

Speaking for the majority

Sir, – In last week’s issue of The Scottish Farmer, Rob Gibson’s’ views over land reform were characterised as out of touch and unwanted.

Don’t halt a positive process

Sir, – Re-opening the debate on ‘Right to Buy’. The recent comments about ‘right to buy’ have unfortunately opened up the wounds for some on both sides of the land reform debate and risk cutting away the opportunity of securing the changes badly needed to revitalise the tenanted sector.

Planning our land management for us

Sir, – Alex Millar (letters, Sept 10) is correct that forestry planting grants distort land values, but they are only one of a number of factors that do so and ‘interfere with market forces’.

Landowners responsibility weighs heavy

Sir, – Good to read Alex Murray, never far from the fray, contributing to the lively landlord tenant debate in these columns.

Good times are over for landlords

Sir, – Successive goverments have failed to address what other European countries have welcomed and adopted, that is the issue of power over land.

Land use in Scotland

Sir, – I am not sure that the recent views of your correspondents differ from mine as substantially as they may first appear.

Tenant farmers need a voice

Sir, – With reference to Gordon Morrison’s letter last week, it is obvious that Scotland’s tenant farmers not only have a battle for land reform, but also a battle against outdated arrogant landlords and their factors.

No deadline set for code of practice

Sir, – Your editorial (Sept 10) following my comments on milk contracts seems to be based on a misunderstanding.

The art of not faking it!

SIR, – Congratulations on your recent stories and Evergreen on faking animals. It’s taken a few years for my words and thoughts to come to print, but then I was taught by the last generation of ‘greats’ in the art of livestock portraiture

Sour milk from Wiseman

Sir, – I write with reference to your article on the front page of last week’s Scottish Farmer – Wiseman price rise fails to please – It’s not enough. It certainly isn’t enough.

Hold off on the celebrations!

Sir, – Page 12 of The Scottish Farmer (August 27 issue), reporting Ashley Fleming’s appointment as AgriScot dairy judge, concludes with: ’The herd has just won the bi-annual National UK herds competition for the third time.’

Support for BVD eradication

Sir, – Can I assure Michael Cursiter that I fully support the Scottish initiative to eradicate BVD because I am painfully aware how very devastating BVD can be when just a single permanently infected animal (a PI) is introduced into a BVD naive herd.

Board back Angus

Sir, – In response to last weeks personal criticism of STFA chairman Angus McCall, the board of directors fully support his work in representing members of STFA. He has the confidence and full backing of the organisation.

Let’s scotch the myth

Sir, – The Cassandra ‘syndrome’, ‘dilemma’, or ‘curse’, is a term applied in situations in which valid warnings or concerns are dismissed or disbelieved.

No souring of dairy relationships

Sir, – Your report ‘Milk fall out over report’ suggested that relationships between DairyCo and Dairy UK had ‘turned sour’ following DairyCo’s report on milk price movement. That is not the case. We both appreciate the value in having a healthy debate around what is a complex and evolving issue.

Time for a major change at Pirbright

SIR, – The unwelcome yet unsurprising news that there has been yet another lapse of biosecurity at Pirbright is not merely disgraceful, it is also wholly unacceptable and a risk too far.

Farm foresters – a positive choice

SIR, – I am pleased a discussion is opening up on forestry and farming. I can confirm, as reported in The Scottish Farmer, that foresters do not want to fight farmers. Instead we would like to see the development of ‘farm foresters’, as is common in other countries, where farmers view forestry as an active and valuable part of the land they manage.

More thought needed before forestry takes over

SIR, – I write regarding Alistair Nairn’s letter ‘Making farming and forestry work’ of August 6. This was always a difficult problem with huge mistakes made, the real forestry people of old worked plantations properly ie, thinning and branching, killing vermin, etc.

BVD eradication not compromised by sheep

SIR, – In response to Peter Morrison’s letter of July 30, there is no evidence that any national plan to eradicate BVD from cattle has ever been compromised by co-grazing with sheep.

Farming and forestry must be made to work

SIR, – Having read your front page article on forestry (July 23 issue) and the comments in last Friday’s edition, I feel I would like to pass comment.

Lairds know it all on rents

SIR, – May I reply to the letter from Mr Laing, of Logie Estate Office. He quotes ‘unrealistic terms and retrospective changes’ as reasons for not letting land.

Pull together on BVD

SIR, – Recent opinions in The SF from Jim Walker and Peter Morrison have highlighted concerns over the Scottish Government’s initiative to eradicate BVD.

Desperate need for radical land reform

SIR, – All tenant farmers and hopeful young entrants need to write to their MPs explaining the reality of the situation across Scotland and the desperate need for radical land reform.

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