SO, it is all change at the top of NFU Scotland as the union enters probably the most important era of its hundred plus years of existence.
New president Andrew McCornick has broad shoulders – and he will need every inch of them to carry the union forward through these turbulent times.
And he has two new vice presidents who are renowned for their forthrightness. Nothing wrong with that – as long as their efforts are channelled in the right direction!
Andrew McCornick might not have the finesse of some of his predecessors, but his down-to-earth ‘a spade’s a spade’ approach should lead to politicians being left in little doubt as to the organisation’s standpoint. This should prove a plus point, especially at a time when an unholy row between Holyrood and Westminster is a virtual certainty over future farm policy and support.
Agriculture is supposed to be a devolved issue, but you wouldn’t have though so after recent utterances of Defra minister Andrea Leadsom. This tough stance was further emphasised at the union’s agm on Monday when Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson predicted an ‘almighty political row’ over the subject.
How she managed to escape relatively unscathed is anybody’s guess. Nicola Sturgeon in her address was much more conciliatory, offering to work with the industry to try to achieve the best possible deal.
Particularly, neither the First Minister nor her CabSec Fergus Ewing used the ‘Referendum’ word in their speeches or Q and A sessions. And they were all the better received for that!
However, a big task facing NFU Scotland is when to choose to back the Holyrood horse, and when to back the Westminster one. And the biggest quandry of all will be choosing the time to back neither, if the winning post is shrouded in mist.
Flogging a dead horse yields no rewards – flogging two at the same time is a recipe for disaster!
Poll question:Should government agricultural policy be repatriated to Westminster? Take part in our on-line poll at www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk