Sir, – As chair of my local branch of NFUS I would like to thank those members who attended our recent agm and dinner, and to our local MP, Stephen Gethins of the SNP, for being our guest speaker.

We had a lively debate and good on Stephen for taking questions and joining in the debate. My question to the floor 'Do we need subsidies?' sure got members fired up. Allan Bowie made sure our esteemed guest was under no doubt that Scottish farmers do need some kind of government support.

But, we could not agree how future support should look, apart from the fact we all agreed that our hill farmers need subsidies to support the fabric of upland communities.

I took the chance to point out that at the present time many Scottish distilleries choose to back French farmers for their raw materials. Stephen had no idea that the Famous Grouse uses imported French maize as a major raw material. Yet there is nothing on the label to allow the consumer to make an informed choice.

Nor did he understand that a 'No deal' Brexit would impose tariffs on imported grain, forcing Scottish distillers to support Scottish and not French farmers.

Can you imagine how French farmers would react if the Grey Goose vodka distillery, in France, announced it was going to replace locally-grown wheat with imported Scottish wheat?

Now here is a thought for Christmas – every Scottish farmer must own a yellow hi-viz waistcoat or jacket!

May I wish The SF's readers a great festive period.

Gordon Rennie

Stenton Farm,

St Monans,

Fife.