The UK Government’s agriculture bill published last week completely fails to meet the key tests of delivering on promises made to Scotland, respecting the devolved settlements, and righting longstanding issues.

I find it absolutely baffling that an agriculture bill can be so silent on the central role our farmers have - that of food production. For all the worthy statements on improving animal welfare, flood prevention and protecting the environment, our farmers, first and foremost, are producers of high quality food that is renowned and enjoyed throughout the world. At a time when possible food shortages have been raised as a consequence of a potentially disorderly Brexit, it is vital that food production is given the attention and support it rightly deserves.

My aim is simple – to minimise the potential disruption of Brexit to our rural communities while continuing to support food production and farmers’ other central role as custodians of the countryside.

That is why, the Scottish Government was the first UK administration to set out detailed plans for the short and medium term after Brexit. We have consulted on our proposals to provide ‘stability and simplicity’ to farmers, as part of a wider civic conversation conducted over the summer.

I am currently considering the views and responses received and will set out our final plans later this autumn. One thing I can assure farmers is that, unlike the UK, I will not be proposing to abolish direct payments from Scotland, nor will I fail to put food production at the centre of our future plans.

The UK’s proposals also represent a missed opportunity for them to deliver on promises made during the referendum and since – namely that in the event of Brexit Scottish farmers would continue to receive at least the same level of funding as they currently do. Time and again, the Environment Secretary and his Brexit supporting colleagues said to the electorate, ‘vote leave and you won’t lose out’.

Unfortunately, the bill is again silent on the future funding arrangements for Scotland and the wider UK. I firmly believe that if you make a commitment like that, you deliver.

While previous guarantees and commitments on farm support are to be welcomed, insofar as they provide a degree of certainty for rural business, they remain inadequate. There remains no clarity on whether the commitment on farm support includes pillar 2 schemes linked to forestry or the LEADER programme, that offers vital support to businesses across Scotland.

I believe this bill is the right opportunity for the UK Government to deliver on not only the promises on funding but also the promise that our farmers will not be exposed to unfair competition from imports produced under lower standards. Without these commitments, rural businesses are unable to plan.

More widely, the bill rides roughshod over the devolved settlements. For example, on compliance with WTO rules, the bill would create sweeping unilateral powers that could constrain policy choices in Scotland. To illustrate the risk, we have already seen schemes which are vital for the survival of key Scottish farm sectors – such as coupled payments and less favoured area support - abolished in England.

Similarly, the bill, as drafted, would give Westminster powers that go well beyond the reserved policy area of regulating anti-competitive behaviour. Everyone wants to see fair behaviour in the agri-food supply chain, but this bill could potentially let the UK Government unilaterally set rules that could ultimately affect the commercial dealings of every farmer in Scotland.

It is therefore of serious concern that the UK Government could impose unwanted policies and rules on Scottish farmers in areas of devolved competence. Unless and until these attempts to grab key powers that impact on farming and food production are addressed and revised, we are clear that we cannot, and will not, support this bill.

I have said repeatedly to Mr Gove, that I and my colleagues are not opposed to UK-wide frameworks in principle, where they are in the interest of Scotland. However, this must be done with respect for devolution and via agreement, not imposition – and for now the administrations have not reached agreement.

I therefore hope that the UK Government will agree to amend the bill to deliver on the promises on future funding made during the referendum, fully respect the devolved settlement, and detail how it will right longstanding issues, such as the red meat levy.

Unfortunately, this bill, launched with much fanfare by Mr Gove, currently provides little clarity for farmers in England, but fails completely to deliver the much need certainty for farmers in Scotland.