BY the time you read this, the non event which was the Holyrood election will have come and gone.

Soon, the next ScotGov cabinet will be in place, complete with a new - or not so new - secretary for Rural Affairs!

Then all attention can be focused on the 2016 ballot that really matters - whether or not the UK remains within the European Union?

The result of this referendum will have far reaching implications; much more so than the 2014 Scottish independence vote which, no matter which way you looked at it, we were always going to remain as an integral part of the EU.

This time round, the vote is going to be much more fundamental, especially if the nod is for Brexit, the possibilities of which seem to be growing by the day.

The ramifications for farming are immense, yet proper information on what this could really mean is about as rare as hen's teeth.

Many believe that this is a deliberate ploy by government and business organisations, which want to remain in Europe, who hope that the 'fear factor' created thus far will ensure continued membership of the European club.

The danger of this tactic backfiring on them will only grow as polling day nears. The number of Scottish working, grass roots farmers who are being overheard saying they will vote for the exit option is significant - and growing.

Certainly, the debacle of the ScotGov computer system will have contributed to any 'exit' opinion poll surge as farmers believe that Europe, as well as their own government, have left them high and dry amid the worst crisis to hit farming for several generations.

At this stage, we can only hope that the Brexit turnout is extremely high, to reflect as near as possible the settled will of the people.

And those set to attend the Royal Highland Show on June 23 must be given every encouragement possible to register for a postal vote.

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