WITH the independence question resolved - for now at least - representatives of the UK's four main farming unions gathered in Brussels this week to put their collective shoulders to the sluggish implementation of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy.
Although the principles of the new CAP regime were agreed months ago, agreement on the nitty-gritty detail of the rulebook that will actually apply on the ground has stalled, seemingly suspended in unproductive correspondence between the UK administrations and the European Commission.
This week's joint lobbying offensive - involving NFU England and Wales, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers Union - will seek to change that, stressing that many farmers have already had to start work on next year's crops, and have been basing crucial land management decisions on guesswork.
NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller said: "The new CAP is due to enter into force on January 1, but the details are not yet there. For many farmers time has already run out. Cropping plans were made a long time ago and crops are in the ground.
"Officials don't seem to grasp just how much uncertainty and confusion remains on the ground amongst farmers," said Mr Miller.
"The person who will ultimately lose out from this impasse is the farmer," he warned. "That's not fair. I want tolerances and a light touch for compliance in the early years whilst the new rules bed in."
The four UK farming unions are the only farming representatives to maintain a permanent lobbying base in Brussels - the British Agriculture Bureau - which was set up in 1972 to counter fears that UK farming interests would suffer from being too far away from the EU powerbase.
Its current director, Gail Soutar said: "2014 is a year of political change in Brussels. We have new MEPs in office now and we will have a new Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in post from November 1.
"Our Presidents will be putting the concerns of their members directly to those who can deliver change.
"We will be building alliances with European farm organisations, highlighting key political concerns with MEPs, impressing the need for realism on senior Commission officials as they set about rule making, meeting UK and regional Government officials to share insights and international partners to identify trading opportunities."
For in-depth news on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday's issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit thescottishfarmer.co.uk
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