I started my role as chief executive at the Scottish Crofting Federation in September 2023 and the first four months have flown past as there is so much going on currently that impacts crofting.

It has been great to get started, and I’ve really enjoyed the opportunities I’ve had so far to speak to our members and learn what is on their minds, what their concerns are, and what their hopes are for the future.

We are planning much more of this during 2024 with a series of events out and about around the crofting counties so I very much look forward to meeting many more crofters then.

As we start 2024, much uncertainty still hangs in the air for the future of agriculture and crofting. Our focus remains on the Government’s programme of work and we recently responded to the Agriculture and Rural Communities Committee consultation regarding the framework bill that was launched in October.

Overall, we still feel the framework bill falls far short in various areas in terms of how it demonstrates real support for crofts and small holdings in rural communities and we will continue to push the Government on this fact.

More recently, news that a further £30m of funding will be deferred from the agricultural budget to an unknown later date is causing concern for the future. Just before Christmas, we also submitted our response to the government’s consultation on Scotland’s strategic framework for biodiversity in which we called for more community engagement and for alignment with the government’s commitment to a just transition.

Whilst we support the restoration of biodiversity, our concern is that it is not achievable in isolation and our reading of the strategic framework left us feeling that the objectives are not sufficiently aligned with others such as agricultural policy reform and the government’s broader commitment to a just transition.

There is therefore a continuing need to lobby Government to ensure that crofting is supported adequately for the future so that it can continue to maintain remote rural communities, provide well-known environmental benefits and the quality local produce that are all part of the Scottish Government’s commitments for the future.

With that in mind, we have much to do in 2024 and would love to hear more of our members views on these and other matters. Also, look out for details of our local meetings soon where we would love to discuss these and all things crofting with you.