The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and The National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) have reacted to Michael Gove’s first speech since his appointment as environment secretary.
In the speech, Gove presented what he calls his vision for a “green Brexit”, in which farmers will get receive governmental funding support “if the environmental benefits of that spending are clear”.
Gove praised the farming sector for its services both to the food industry and the environment and described Brexit as “an historic opportunity to review our policies on agriculture, land use, biodiversity, woodlands, marine conservation, fisheries, pesticide licensing, chemical regulation, animal welfare, habitat management, waste, water purity, air quality and so much more”.
Following the speech, NFU Scotland stated that the Minister’s “clear statement regarding a move away from the current area-based support system” nods approval to its vision that puts Scottish agriculture at the heart of Brexit negotiations.
NFU Scotland’s director of policy, Jonnie Hall, said: “The Secretary of State’s statement that support ‘must be earned’ chimes with our thoughts.
“We would want to see a properly-funded policy, supported by science-led decision-making that builds on our animal health and welfare record and is focused on productivity and profitability gains.”
Hall added that there is a “justifiable case for Scottish agriculture to receive the same levels of funding as it currently receives, ring-fenced and spent in new and more effective ways”, highlighting that this is a “central plank of the discussions we will be having with politicians and their officials in the weeks and months ahead”.
He continued: “It is in Scotland’s interests that a managed move to smarter agricultural support delivers profitable farming and crofting and a rich seam of public benefits, not least of which is the continued production of Scottish food and drink in the future.”
NFU’s president, Meurig Raymond, commented: “The NFU set out its vision for a new domestic agricultural policy in March, and we share the Secretary of State’s view that we should seek a bold and ambitious policy once we have left the EU.
“It is important that we see a broad and innovative range of measures to ensure farmers continue to deliver all the benefits – for our wellbeing, for our economy and for our environment – that the country enjoys.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
