South Scotland MSP Emma Harper has called for a ‘weather summit’ so that farmers and experts can discuss how excessively changes in overall rainfall and weather impacts rural agricultural businesses and what options there could be for future management of land in relation to slurry spreading.
Ms Harper made the suggestion after various Dumfries and Galloway farmers including dairy farmers approached her about the spreading of slurry in the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) areas of Lower Nithsdale and Stranraer.
The MSP commented:
“In recent weeks a number of dairy farmers, including the National Farmers Union of Scotland’s Vice President, Gary Mitchell, contacted me with concerns that they will soon be unable to spread their slurry in the designated NVZ areas and their storage space for their slurry is nearly fully used.
“As Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy this has been an acute issue and I have been liaising closely with Mr Ewing.
“Dumfries and Galloway has around a third of Scottish Dairy farms but around half of all Scottish dairy cows – and that means that a lot of slurry is created.
“The weather has been so wet during September which makes grass cutting for silage impossible and slurry cannot be spread because the water run-off could potentially contaminate burns and water courses.
“The fields are also a mess. This is a really serious issue for dairy and beef farmers across the South West. The priority will be to help those farmers work with the local RPID – Rural Payments and Inspections Division – offices. The best options for actioning identified problems will be explored and tackled on a farm by farm and case by case basis.
“I am now keen to organise a summit between various stakeholders to discuss how best to approach these challenges in the future. I am liaising closely with the NFUS, and individual farmers in the region to ensure that we engage with as wide an audience as possible.”
NFUS Vice-President Gary Mitchell added:
“We welcome Emma’s proposal to hold a weather summit. The weather we have seen, especially over the last couple of months, has had a serious impact on all farmers and should this continue, we will need to look at current farming practice and how this may have to change in line with changes to our weather.
“We have seen delays in harvest, silage-making, baling, planting and spreading and we are hearing of shortages in straw supply which will affect the sector through the winter.
“We would welcome a summit for our farmers to discuss these issues and to share ideas going forward.”
