SCOTTISH, Welsh and Northern Irish farmers – and the rural economies they underpin – must not be the losers from a battle over funding between the UK's devolved governments and Westminster.

That was the message from NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru and Ulster Farmers’ Union, issued in the wake of a joint letter from the rural affairs ministers of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, reminding the Conservative government of its repeated promises that the European Union's rural spending would be fully matched after Brexit.

NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick said: “NFUS has always been crystal clear that in the post-Brexit era, Scottish farmers and crofters must have access to the same quantum of funding as they had under the CAP. Conservative manifesto pledges in 2017 and 2019 recognised that the sector should not be disadvantaged financially by Brexit. We call on the UK Government to ensure that this week’s financial spending review honours that commitment.

“A shortfall of the order of £170 million for Scotland, as suggested in the joint letter from Devolved Administrations to Secretary of State George Eustice, is wholly unacceptable," said Mr McCornick. "It would significantly disadvantage farmers and crofters as we enter a potentially chaotic and turbulent post-transition period. Greater volatility for market returns is likely and input costs will be unpredictable, so the reliance on promised farm support will increase.

“Any reduced commitment from UK Government would leave Scottish farmers and crofters facing greater uncertainty rather than required stability," he warned. "It also undermines the crucial delivery of policies to meet climate and biodiversity challenges. Outcomes that are clearly in the public interest will be much harder to achieve under any funding cuts.”

NFU Cymru president John Davies said: “It is a matter of the utmost concern that just a matter of days before the UK Treasury’s Comprehensive Spending Review, we hear that there is the possibility that Welsh farming and our rural communities could lose out to the tune of up to £200m. This is an unacceptable situation and cannot happen.

“At a time of unprecedented uncertainty for the sector we cannot afford to lose this support," he stressed. "We are a matter of weeks away from the ending of the Brexit transition period, with the potential for significant disruption to our markets for agricultural produce. Alongside this we are continuing to deal with the massive disruption in the UK food supply chain caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact this has had on the food service sector and the buying patterns of the general public.

“At a time where Welsh farming is facing such uncertainty, we look to our governments to provide some stability and certainty. We seek urgent reassurances that Welsh farming will not receive a penny less in funding as we move out of the CAP and into funding arrangements determined by our governments in Cardiff Bay and Westminster.”
NFUS has also sent a briefing to the Treasury outlining what it sees as the need for 'vital investment in agriculture and rural development' to enable farming and crofting to deliver on the increased expectations being placed on the sector.
The union explicitly called for HM Treasury to underpin a bold new post-CAP agricultural policy for Scotland to be delivered by the Scottish Government. 
“We need the Chancellor and Treasury to stand by farmers and crofters at this hugely challenging time for the agricultural sector and put them at the centre of the nation’s green recovery.
“Regardless of whether we leave the EU with or without a trade deal, it is clear that markets and supply chains must adapt to survive and thrive, and delivery of agricultural support will be realigned to meet amended policy goals," he continued.
“As the cornerstone of rural Scotland, the agricultural sector and agricultural land use are the foundation upon which economic growth and prosperity can be built, including in sectors such as food and drink, tourism and renewable energy.”