UK UNIONS SPELL OUT PRIORITIES IN EUROPEAN MANIFESTO

Scottish Union to host hustings events ahead of May 22 elections

NFU Scotland has joined other UK unions in outlining its priorities for the next European parliamentary term.

NFU Scotland’s President Nigel Miller and Parliamentary Officer Clare Slipper attended the launch in Brussels of the UK Farming Union’s manifesto – ‘Backing the Business of British Farming’ – prepared ahead of the European elections in May.

The document was produced by the British Agricultural Bureau (BAB), the office representing NFU Scotland, NFU England, Ulster Farmers’ Union and NFU Cymru in Europe.

‘Backing the Business of British Farming’ highlights how important farming and food production is to the UK and European economies and vital to growth and employment in rural areas across the continent.  It contains sections on CAP, international trade, the environment, science and technology, food supply chains and crop protection.

Ahead of the elections, NFU Scotland will be producing an additional manifesto, focussing on Scottish issues and hosting two European election hustings events – one in Lanarkshire on May 6 and one in Aberdeenshire on May 8 – to which the key European parliamentary candidates have been invited to attend.

Speaking from Brussels, Parliamentary Officer Clare Slipper said:

“Our farming industry benefits from a robust working relationship with our Scottish MEPs.  Regardless of Scotland’s constitutional future, due to be decided on September 18, Europe will continue to have a huge influence on our food and farming sectors – both in terms of the regulatory framework and the marketplace for our goods.

“This UK manifesto focuses on generating the right conditions for food production, safeguarding the environment, and creating a food chain that works for all – farmers, processors, retailers and the consumer.

“Underpinned by the Common Agricultural Policy, farming is good for the economy, for the environment, for growth and employment and ensures quality food supplies for consumers not just in Scotland and the UK but across the world.

“We are also on the brink of a crucial set of trade negotiations where Europe will define our trading standards and competitive status. The outcome of those negotiations will be crucial for farmers, food quality, consumer choice and animal welfare.

“The huge turnout at our recent referendum debate in Stirling underlines the massive interest that the farming community has in the politics and policies that affect their businesses.  Venues for our European hustings meetings will be finalised in due course but I would urge members to put the Lanarkshire (May 6) and North East (May 8) events in their diaries.

“Regardless of the outcome of the vote on May 22, we look forward to working closely with Scottish MEPs for the next parliamentary term and beyond.”  Ends

MIXED PICTURE FOR SCOTLAND’S GROWERS THIS SPRING

Great progress being made in the north but wet weather holding many back

It is a very mixed picture for Scotland’s arable, potato, fruit and vegetable growers this spring.

A snapshot survey of NFU Scotland’s Combinable Crops committee members along with those farmers on its potatoes, soft fruit and vegetables working groups has shown a real divide across the country created by the weather.

In the north, the process of ploughing and planting spring crops is well advanced with many recently sown crops already emerging from the ground.  Compare that with reports from Perthshire, Stirlingshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway where wet weather has brought ploughing and planting to a standstill and many growers now well behind their normal schedule.

The good news from across Scotland is that the fair weather last autumn, and the chance to get winter crops established in good conditions has left winter wheat and barley crops around the country looking well.

NFU Scotland’s Combinable Crops Chairman, Andrew Moir said:

“This is the time of year where, weather permitting, Scotland’s growers are looking to kick on with ploughing and planting and caring for the crops that went in last autumn. 

“A quick update from our members and it is clear that fortunes are very mixed.  Enviable progress has been made in much of Aberdeenshire and Easter Ross but there are clear problems in many other parts of the country where wet weather is holding farmers back.

“Given that the forecast remains unsettled, the amount of ploughing and sowing left to be done means that many farmers are now behind schedule and frustration levels will be rising

“Although too early to give thought to harvest prospects for the year, it is very pleasing that, compared to 12 months ago, wheat, winter barley and oilseed rape crops are looking well.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

Arable, potato, vegetable and soft fruit growers around Scotland have provided the following reports on progress with crops this spring.

Jim Whiteford, Shandwick Mains, Tain, Ross-shire

Spring barley in Easter Ross is pretty well sown up.  In fact a lot of it including my 450 acres are through and looking well. We had good rainfall at the week end and just need the heat now.  Oilseed rape (OSR) is looking good with 10 percent flowering on the earliest crops. Winter wheat and winter barley are looking the best in a long, long time with zero wet holes in fields. Tatties are hitting the ground at a great rate in to good conditions.  I am pinching myself in case all goes pear shape!

Ian Sands, Townhead Farm, Balbeggie, Perth

In the Perth area, very little has been sown and not much progress – if any – going to be made this week.  Ground conditions are now very wet from heavy rain over the last four days.  All in all, a bit depressing and frustrating.

Neil McCrae, Mains of Dudwick, Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeenshire is, in general, well ahead. Most are finished their spring sowing in good conditions and some crops are already emerging in Tarves and Oldmeldrum area. Winter crops are also looking good.

George Lawrie, Grianan, Milnathort, Fife

In the office looking out at the rain. Here in Kinross, just about all winter ploughing is done and many are waiting for the weather to pick up to get some sowing done. There is about 10 percent of spring crop in the ground, mainly beans and the lighter land sown in spring barley. Winter crops are looking well and all had their first nitrogen, with some spraying been carried out. Things need to dry out now if we are to get the full potential out of these crops and get a reasonable yield from the spring crops. The good news is things in the east are forecast to dry up from midweek, so might get something done by the weekend!  Here’s hoping for a busy April.

Andrew Glover, Hall of Barnweil, Craigie, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire

In Ayrshire, fields are sodden and the situation is dire. Only 10 percent of our arable ground is ploughed, if that, and less than 5 percent are sown.  We were lucky to get three dry days in a row a couple of weeks ago and managed to top dress winter crops. Winter crop fields look ok but some are patchy where the land is slightly heavier and water has been lying in the fields all winter. Outlook is not good weather-wise for this week – heavy rain followed by more sunshine and showers.  I have one field sown but was not ideal condition, and there won’t be much done this week. What chance have we got of growing three crops when we struggle in the spring to grow any crop and we have struggled in the autumn to grow winter crops? Not easy farming in Ayrshire.

Timothy Hamilton, Killumpha, Port Logan, Stranraer, Wigtownshire

Spring work is progressing very slowly in the Mull of Galloway.  Ploughing is slowly progressing but not much drilling has been done.  The ground is very wet again.  Winter cereals are looking a bit patchy with the wet winter and high winds, although winter crops are growing in the mild temperature.  We are needing a dry week to get on with planting spring crops.

Peter Thomson, Blairgowrie

Touch wood it has been a pretty normal spring so far, with no problems reported by fruit growers.

Neil White, Greenknowe, Duns, Berwickshire

It is a very mixed bag for growers in Berwickshire. Some crops are emerging well, especially on light ground, but some are sown and now sitting in a very sodden cold seedbed and a portion of seed is still in the bag. Water is beginning to lie on flatter ground which is a worry. Large variation in stages of fertiliser usage.  Some people have very little applied and some are well through spreading on more advanced crops. Winter crops still look well although beginning to look for more nutrients and heat.

David Bryce, West Cambusdrennie, Stirling

To say things are not great in the Stirling area would be an understatement. The Carse is far from being fir for drilling with water lying in some fields. Haven’t seen any drills out either on the dry land in the area.  Also struggling to get fertiliser onto winter crops as the ground would not take a tractor although the crops do look well with great potential if the weather plays ball.  The next three weeks are pivotal to the rest of the year.

Colin Dargie, East of Scotland Farmers, Coupar Angus, Perthshire

Drilling is probably 50 to 60 percent complete in our trading area of West Perthshire to the Angus coast with most progress furthest east.  Many farms east of Forfar are finished drilling, some west of Coupar Angus still to make a start.  Most light land and later ploughed land now complete with many farmers “looking for a dry field to go to now”.  The early ploughed and heavier land will need more drying weather before it is fit.  Interestingly, one grower I spoke to yesterday started drilling in 2013 on the 7^th April – a “late start” due to the snow cover.  Today is 7^th April, he hasn’t turned a wheel to date and is unlikely to start before middle of this week given the forecast.

Douglas Morrison, Amisfield Mains, Haddington, East Lothian

East Lothian is a mixed bag, most of the coastal strip and lighter land destined for spring barley is drilled up and went in well, but a lot of the more upland or heavier land remains wet, and after today’s rain is now very wet!  Some fields have been drilled while not yet fit, but we all know how hard it is to stop when the forecast says more rain.  Pressure has been on to get winter OSR fertiliser applications finished as the rape is now getting too tall for effective spread width from spinners.  The saving grace is that there is a huge area of winter crops sown which all look well, so the spring drilling area is just a fraction of last year’s total.

Russell Brown, Inverdovat, Newport-on-Tay, Fife

In the east, potato plantings have begun but it is only on the lightest soils. In general, people are waiting for things to dry up and warm up. Slow-ish progress means that tattie plantings in Scotland are behind compared to the UK as a whole.

James Grant, Roskill House, Munlochy, Ross-shire

Potato planting is underway in the region and progress is keeping up with our normal planting schedule.

Ian Morrison, Kettle Produce, Balmacolm, Fife

The very wet January and February delayed the drilling of early carrots and parsnips in both Ayrshire and Fife. Fortunately there was a very welcome dry spell at the beginning of March and growers managed to catch up with drilling although covering the crops with fleece and polythene was delayed due to the very high winds in the first 10 days of March.Planting programmes of salads, spring greens and cabbage start at the beginning of March and to date these have been planted more or less on schedule.Drilling of main season carrot and parsnip crops will start as soon as the weather dries up a bit – hopefully by the end of this week!

Commission meetings also reveal land eligibility flexibility

After two days of meetings in Brussels with Commission officials, NFU Scotland has committed to working proactively with Europe on identifying CAP delivery options for those in Scotland’s rough grazing region (RGR).

The Union’s President, Nigel Miller, was in Brussels after Commissioner Ciolos indicated last week that Scottish farmers were to be denied greater coupling options under new CAP arrangements.  That contradicted previous verbal commitments from the Commissioner and left Scottish farmers angered and disappointed.

NFU Scotland’s President Nigel Miller wrote to Commissioner Ciolos at the end of last week and very quickly arranged meetings with the Commission to look at potential solutions to make best use of the pot of funding available those who farm in Scotland’s RGR.

Discussions with Commission officials also opened up the possibility of building greater flexibility into recording land eligibility in our hills and uplands.  NFU Scotland has had a long running campaign calling for a more pragmatic approach to land eligibility that would soften the need for hill farmers to undertake complex mapping exercises.  Indications are that such an approach may be possible under the new CAP package.

Speaking after the meetings, Nigel Miller said:

“Last week’s announcement on coupling was a bombshell which meant that getting to Brussels to meet officials was a priority because time is running out for Scotland to finalise its CAP implementation plans. 

“The coupling announcement left Scotland without the necessary targeting options to provide appropriate levels of support to Scottish farmers in fragile areas using the pot of funding allocated to our rough grazing region (RGR).

“These quickly arranged meetings were an opportunity to highlight the real challenge of delivering an area payment in hill land where the proposed system will create some big winners but could also devastate some flocks where grazing intensity is higher. We mapped out those scenarios and demonstrated that there are a range of flock densities and holding sizes that would be severely impacted by this single area payment approach

“While we are still some way from identifying a solution to that issue, Commission officials are now far clearer on the huge problem we face in delivering support to our producers in the RGR and why we need a more targeted approach if we are to make best use of funds. 

“I believe Commission officials are now proactively looking at our problem and there is an appreciation that this needs to be addressed.  There was discussion around the use of coefficients to allow differing payment rates within the RGR and the level of flexibility that exists within the regulation.  We also discussed the potential for a collaborative approach from the UK and Scottish Governments to gain more flexibility for targeting.

“In the next 24 to 48 hours, I have committed to provide Commission officials with a briefing to move this debate along and I will copy that to the Scottish and UK Governments.  It is imperative we make some progress on this before Europe shuts down for Easter.

“That briefing will contain further figures and data on our RGR to allow the Commission to better understand how budgets need to be applied and examine if politicians have covered all the options available should they adopt a more collaborative approach.

“The meeting also threw up some very useful insight into how land eligibility may be applied in the future to support claims relating to our permanent pasture and hill type land – a significant issue for many producers in recent times. 

“The Union has written to – and met with – the Commission in the past looking for a route to managing claims on extensive areas without the strict requirement for detailed mapping and a threat of swingeing penalties for errors.  The Union had asked the EC to recognise the mapping challenges and also the value of giving applicants an incentive to maintain diverse ecological features on grazing and hill land where under present eligibility criteria there is an incentive to remove them.  

“It appears our proposal may have gained traction within the detailed CAP Reform regulations.  We will now pick up with the Scottish Government how we could apply this valuable break in approach.”