As NFU Scotland opens its series of 11 roadshow meetings with members, it has called on Scottish Government to bring forward vital informa- tion around how it plans to introduce key elements of the new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) package.
According to NFUS, uncertainty over both the depth and reach of the National reserve for new or developing farm businesses has yet to be properly addressed by Scottish Government.
At the same time, for a host of established businesses, the lack of clarity over the transition to the new area payment system is eroding confidence in the reform process.
In a strongly-worded letter to Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead, the Union's president Nigel Miller has called on the minister to instruct his officials to operate in a more transparent manner, to bring forward such vital information and allow all interested parties to scrutinise the Scottish Government Blueprint.
NFUS says Scottish Government's current round of farmer meetings presents an opportunity to have a two-way dialogue with claimants to ensure potential flaws are addressed before Europe slams the door on modifications to Scotland's implementation plan.
Speaking ahead of the roadshows, Mr Miller said: "The growing frustration felt by new and established businesses is being fuelled by an information vacuum and it is inherent on the Scottish Government to address that by bringing forward the detailed processes and communicate with clarity on the impacts of the new CAP regime.
"It is now vital that Scottish Government officials operate in a more transparent manner. They must share the fundamentals of the reform options that are increasingly certain to be adopted.
"For established businesses, the impacts of the transition process to 2019, as announced by the Cabinet Secretary in June, have to be made clear.
"We understand that the Scottish Government's original transition plan has been rejected by the European Commission and a new formula has been developed behind closed doors.
"That new formula, as well as the earlier transition models, must be shared so that any implications around the intended 'soft landing' for businesses are fully understood.
"Any transition approach that front loads extreme change into year one could effectively create a cliff edge for some businesses."
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