The National Council of Rural Advisers published their recommendations for reinvigorating the countryside economy.

Their key recommendation is for the rural economy to feature more prominently in Government plans and to create a Rural Economic Framework which will ensure plans for helping businesses in the countryside to achieve national goals.

Finally, they recommend the Government creates a Rural Economy Action Group “which has the clout to get things done and set the tone for change”.

Key to farmers, the advisers back the Agricultural Champions paper to continue farm payments, as they are, throughout a transition from the EU.

NFU Scotland political affairs manager Clare Slipper said: “Today’s announcement of a task force to take forward the development of post-Brexit agricultural policy in Scotland marks out the next steps on determining the right policies for Scotland’s farmers and crofters.

“The report from the National Council of Rural Advisers draws a line in a wide-ranging consultation process that also includes responses to Scottish Government’s own Stability and Simplicity consultation, which closed recently.

“Given the pressing need to give certainty and clarity to our producers, a speedy timetable for the taskforce to take forward its discussions must be set.”

The council of rural advisors is composed of:

  • Lorne Crerar (co-chair). Lorne is a founding partner and chair of Harper Macleod LLP.
  • Alison Milne (co-chair), self-employed consultant and farmer on a mixed arable and livestock business.
  • Jackie Brierton, CEO of GrowBiz a community-based enterprise support organisation in rural Perthshire.
  • Willie Cameron, founding director of the ‘Cobbs’ Group of companies.
  • Archie Gibson, managing director of Agrico UK, director of the James Hutton Institute and former chair of the Food & Drink Federation Scotland.
  • Henry Graham, mixed farmer and previously worked in rural banking.
  • John Kinnaird, arable and beef farmer and previous president of the National Farmers’ Union Scotland from 2003 to 2007.
  • Alan Laidlaw, chief executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
  • Lynn Mann co-owner of Supernature Oils.
  • Marion McCormick former senior Aldi (Scotland) buyer.
  • Jim McLaren, arable and livestock farmer and former chair of Quality Meat Scotland and president of NFU Scotland.
  • Sarah Millar, Soil Association Scotland and former chair of the SAYFC Agri and Rural Affairs Committee.
  • Sarah Simpson dairy farmer and former policy advisor at NFU Scotland.
  • David Sulman executive director of the United Kingdom Forest Products Association.