ONLY independence will guarantee Scottish farmers a continued share of European farm subsidies, according to Scotland's deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Speaking to a 400-strong audience of farmers and agriculturalists gathered for a debate on the independence referendum, Ms Sturgeon warned that staying within the UK, Scotland risked being dragged out of the European Union - leaving its farmers at the mercy of a Westminster government with the intention of phasing out farm subsidies.

However, Ms Sturgeon's 'Better Together' counterpart at the debate, Scottish Secretary of State Alastair Carmichael, rejected her suggestion that there would be an 'in-out' UK referendum on EU membership in 2017.

Saying that 'only one' Westminster political party had a vote about EU membership on its agenda, Mr Carmichael said the only risk to Scotland's status in Europe arose from it leaving the membership treaties negotiated as part of the UK.

Event organiser the National Farmers Union Scotland declared itself happy with the strong turnout and the thorough airing given to key issues of concern to the industry.

Union president Nigel Miller chaired the meeting in the sheep ring at UA's Stirling mart. He said: "There was good discussions and debate from both sides with some difficult issues covered.

"Hopefully this event gave not just our members but people from across the rural community a better understanding of the opportunities and risks of either independence or a continued union."

After brief presentations from Ms Sturgeon and Mr Carmichael, and their seconds - respectively Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead and 'Farming for Yes' farmer Jim Fairlie, and LibDem MEP George Lyon and 'Better Together' farmer Peter Chapman - questions were taken from the floor covering a variety of topics, including currency, area payment convergence, the future of renewables subsidies, and the likelihood that the population of England would, in the event of a Yes vote, stop consuming Scotch whisky, beef and salmon.

There was no opportunity to quantify how the audience intended to vote after hearing hours of occasionally heated exchange, with the union avoiding the informal show of hands that occasionally follows such hustings. Impartial observers noted that had the UA sheep ring been fitted with a 'clapometer', it would have struggled to register much difference between either camp.

For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday's issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk