WE MIGHT be right slap bang in the middle of the season of goodwill – but you certainly wouldn’t think it as the farming industry and the Scottish Government face stand-offs in a number of important issues.
Indeed, NFU Scotland representatives have talked openly about holding the government’s ‘feet to the fire’ over the seemingly increasing unwillingness by Scottish ministers to amend greening rules, which not only put Scottish farming plc at a disadvantage with other continental EU countries, but also with our counterparts in the rest of the UK.
ScotGov continuing to stall over this issue only fuels farmers’ fears that environmentalists are more valued than farmers at Holyrood. At this juncture, it would be difficult to disagree.
Add to this the current impasse over linked holdings for cattle movements and it is easy to see why there were not many farming Christmas cards delivered to Fergus Ewing’s office in Holyrood.
And last, but certainly not least, we have the continuing debacle over the computer system that just refuses to be fixed.
It is not just farmers who are perplexed at ScotGov’s continuing inability to deliver a coherent and timely CAP Futures programme which will ensure recipients get paid in a full and efficient manner. 
Audit Scotland has made a list of recommendations it expects to be implemented, while the Scottish Parliament’s very own Public Audit Committee has insisted that the government provides monthly updates until the problem is rectified.
A New Year, should certainly mean we see a new impetus in trying to solve these major conflicts!