BREXIT and the future of UK agricultural policy were on the agenda when NFU Scotland met with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, George Eustice, on a Renfrewshire farm earlier this week.
Mr Eustice, who had earlier addressed the Semex dairy farming conference in Glasgow, visited tenant farmer Willie Harper's Gryffe Wraes Farm at Bridge of Weir, as part of Westminster’s commitment to listen to the views of the farming industry across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on “how to make the most of the opportunities” brought by leaving the EU.
Mr Harper, who was recently elected chairman of the NFUS Forth and Clyde region, showed Mr Eustice around the farm, where he runs a beef herd of 240 cows, 150 ewes and grows cereals on contract, accompanied by other union officials representing various sectors of Scottish farming.
The Minister said: “Scotland’s farmers make a vital contribution to the country, producing food, providing jobs, and generating more than £1 billion for the economy.
“We want to see our agriculture sector grow, become more competitive and more profitable – attracting talented new entrants who can rise to the challenges and exciting opportunities the future will bring.
“I was delighted to meet with this group of farmers today – their views will play an important part in helping shape our discussions around our exit from the EU. We are determined to get the best deal possible – and not least for our hard-working farmers.”
Speaking afterwards, union chief executive Scott Walker commented: “These remain hugely uncertain times for the industry but NFUS remains on the front foot when it comes to engaging with key politicians on what Scottish agriculture needs to secure from the negotiations ahead.
“Policies that promote productive, profitable agriculture and reward and support the active farmer or crofter are central to our future and Mr Eustice saw clear evidence today of how important support is to a hard-working family farm."
Mr Walker noted that Prime Minister Theresa May had begun to "refine her views" on what approach to take when looking at market access and the trade deals that may need to be struck in the post-Brexit era, and stressed that, for Scottish agriculture, market access was a key driver for how the industry would cope with the change.
“We welcomed this opportunity to engage with the Minister on farm. It follows on from meetings in recent weeks with the Defra Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom and David Jones MP, Minister of State at the recently created Department for Exiting the European Union.
“These meetings are welcome, but crunch time is coming on Brexit and there would be real value to the industry if a round table meeting with all key politicians could be put in the diary so that preparedness for the greatest single challenge faced by our industry can be as good as it possibly can.”
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