George Lyon MEP has lodged a question to the European Commission asking if it has the legal powers to prevent the value of farmers' single farm payments (SFP) being taken into account by landlords when negotiating rent reviews.
Many Scottish tenant farmers are concerned that their SFP entitlements will be taken into account in determining the rent they pay for the land on which the entitlements are claimed following the Moonzie rent review case in the Court of Session in February.
The court over-ruled an earlier decision by the Scottish Land Court in 2010 that was based on the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003, and concluded that SFP entitlements can be taken into consideration in a rent review.
Mr Lyon said: "I want to know what the European Commission can do to stop landlords taking SFP value into account during rent reviews and if it plans to address the issue in the current reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
"We need to know whether this matter can be sorted out at European level. If not, it is up to the Scottish Government to step in and strengthen the agricultural legislation."
Scottish Tenant Farmers Association chairman, Angus McCall said: "The industry is currently consulting on how rents should be calculated.
"We are asking the Scottish Government to give guidance on how the SFP and other support payments should be treated in terms of calculating rental values.
"This is particularly crucial as we move into a new CAP support regime from 2014."
The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had 58 prime cattle forward at their weekly sale in Dumfries on Wednesday when bullocks sold to 191.5p per kg and averaged 181.5p, while heifers peaked at 240p and levelled at 205.5p.
There were also 81 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when beef cows averaged 134.2p and dairy cows levelled at 105.6p.
Over in the sheep ring 1117 prime lambs sold to £98.50 per head and 204p pe kg to average 182.8p.
The 308 cast sheep forward were slightly easier on the week with heavy ewes selling to £126.50 for Texels and averaging £65.50, while light ewes peaked at £55.50 for Cheviots and levelled at £42.50.
United Auctions sold 685 store bullocks at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 250p and an average of 187p (-4.8p on the week), while 368 store heifers peaked at 225.4p and levelled at 188.9p (-0.7p). Forty-four young bulls sold to 201.4p and averaged 153.3p.
In the rough ring 172 cast cows averaged 131.8p.
The firm also sold 5251 store lambs. Leading prices and averages: Suffolks to £68.50 and averaged £62.23 (-£1.07 on the week); Texels £70 and £61.26 (+13p); Beltex £66.50 and £64.67 (+£1.08); Mules £69 and £56.68 (+£1.76); Blackfaces £58.50 and £42.99 (-£2.19); Charollais £62.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article