Update on Scottish Farming Frustrations

Scotlands’ National Farmers Union (NFU) has demanded “urgent clarity” on agricultural policy with tension and anger increasing regarding administrative inaction on rising costs and unstable pricing.

The NFU claimed to have voiced “deep disappointment” over the lack of information on potential future policy alternatives. Those in the agricultural sector are “desperately seeking direction and reassurance” as they express dire need for help to both harvest sustainably and generate a profit.
The biggest threat in the industry right now is what’s known as “agflation”. This describes the falling prices, a lack of available labour, and unpredictable and extreme weather.

Martin Kennedy, the president of the NFU in Scotland, stated that assistance plans for farmers should already be available to the public. He cautioned that they don’t “have time to wait for detail” since the price of diesel has skyrocketed, energy prices have increased fourfold, and fertiliser prices have gone up threefold.

“We need a policy that supports farm output, supports the measures that will help us cut our carbon footprint and supports the measures that will enhance biodiversity. Production is falling and we need the Scottish government to say how it is going to halt this decline and give farmers the confidence to keep going for the future.”

Mr. Kennedy acknowledged that the administrations’ conference discussing an agriculture bill was a crucial move in order to facilitate laws, policies, and support frameworks. However, there is currently a lack of information on the policies and assistance enabling farmers and crofters to meet their food and climate change obligations.

“We know the direction we need to go in and we know the measures that can help transform individual farming and crofting businesses. This consultation does not fill the policy gap that our members want to see filled. If the Scottish government had listened years ago, we could have started.”

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