ELGIN FARMERS have held a meeting with Scottish Conservative parliamentarians to discuss the ongoing shortage of fodder and bedding facing Scottish livestock farmers – and how government policy is exacerbating these shortages.

MP for Moray, Douglas Ross, and Highlands and Islands MSPs, Donald Cameron, Edward Mountain and Jamie Halcro Johnston, applauded the 'frank discussions' with the assembled farmers: “We welcome this useful discussion which will help us to continue to represent the views of farmers at Westminster and the Scottish Parliament. The importance of agriculture to Scotland cannot be understated and it is important that we get any future support policy correct. The future of our rural industries is critical to Scotland and the UK.”

Also present was the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association's Angus McCall, who reported: “The meeting with Conservative politicians from the Highlands gave farmers and industry representatives an opportunity to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing rural businesses in the Highlands, particularly with regard to the future sustainability of livestock farming in remote and fragile areas.

“Following last year’s dry summer, farmers in the Highlands are currently faced with fodder shortages which have been compounded by the current scarcity of feedstuffs, notably distillery by-products and bedding straw," reported Mr McCall. "It is anticipated that these shortages may reach a critical level in the next couple of months, especially if there is a prolonged spell of hard weather.

“Apart from these immediate concerns, livestock farmers are also concerned about the future sustainability of the livestock industry following increasing financial pressure over the next few years with falling LFASS and another support payments and the prospect of reduced livestock prices post Brexit.

"The meeting also expressed their fears that the financial squeeze will be exacerbated by the threat from other industries such as the renewable energy and forestry sectors both of which are taking land out of food production encouraged by generous grant aid and tax concessions," he noted.

"The meeting called for the Scottish and UK governments to adopt a more holistic approach to rural policy and planning and to ensure that one sector is not incentivised at the expense of another. For example, support for the renewable energy sector has diverted thousands of acres of arable land, along with distillery by-products, to feed anaerobic digesters and biomass plants, all contributing to the current scarcity of feedstuffs and bedding.

"Whilst recognising the Scottish Government’s desire to meet tree planting targets, farmers at the meeting have renewed calls for greater monitoring and transparency of tree planting in line with the Woodland Expansion Advisory Group’s recommendations, especially on the need for wider consultation on tree planting plans involving potentially productive agricultural land.”

Other topics covered included the future of agricultural support, including cuts to LFASS; the future operation of the Crown Estate Scotland; and the need to encourage new entrants and new agricultural tenancies.