NFU SCOTLAND is in no mood to give up its position at ScotGov's agri-policy negotiating table.

Hitting back at criticism of the union for being 'too close' to Government, NFUS Director of Policy, Jonnie Hall, said: “You have to be as close to Government as possible but it doesn’t mean you agree with it all.”

Speaking at the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen last weekend, Mr Hall stressed that there was nothing cosy about the relationship, and that in meetings 'there are differences of opinion, it is not about accepting without questioning'. But storming out of the room was not an option – to be effective in its role as a lobbying organisation, the union working with the ruling administration was essential.

Mr Hall lauded the Government's farm vision but made the point that the word 'profit' was a glaring omission from its agricultural aims. On the topic of the current Agricultural bill consultation, he said the union was ‘very uncertain how to respond to the consultation’ but that 'funding is the elephant in the room – unless we have funding in behind the consultation we are not going to manage'.

NFUS president Martin Kennedy also spoke at the conference fringe event where he highlighted to delegates the challenges facing the farming sector – but that he felt that 'all the problems were fixable by political decisions'.

On the topic of the ARIOB committee, the Perthshire farmer reiterated his belief that it was vital farmer representation was at the top table for discussions on future rural policy. He reminded the Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon, who was also at the meeting, that if she let the industry steer the plans there would be greater buy in: “We [NFUS] need to be in the room, I have never shied away from that.”

Addressing the delegates, he stated that the union would be staying in ARIOB unless the Government started heading in completely the wrong direction – and to date, there was no defining legislation to say Scottish policy was heading the wrong way. Once again, he stated his mantra: “Better to go slow in the right direction than fast in the wrong direction.”

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This was a cue for the president to highlight the perceived shortcomings of the English farm support scheme: “The new policy in England is not working. South of the border there is negligible buy in. In Scotland we have the opportunity to showcase sustainable agriculture.”

Speaking to a packed room of SNP members, Ms Gougeon highlighted the lack of confirmed budget from the UK Treasury, giving Scotland no certainty of funding beyond 2025.

She then reiterated that direct payments will be maintained in Scotland and that the rules would be ‘broadly aligned with the EU', with Scotland farming in a climate and nature friendly way, with the target of 31% emission reduction by 2032 fast approaching.

On ScotGov's current consultation, she called for people to respond and reaffirmed her commitment to listen to all views before bringing forward legislation.