The Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy refused to give a clear answer on the issue of continued support for hill farmers coming at a cost to arable.

He was asked a straight question at the NFU Scotland conference and said it would be much easier if Scotland’s farm budget was bolstered by a convergence cash uplift.

He did not rule out taking cash from the lowlands to support the uplands, if necessary, and explained support should go where it is most needed – hill farms.

Cutting arable or region I support to provide a lifeline to the hills is not necessary in the short term.

The UK Government has promised farm support budgets until 2022, which means there should be money for LFASS, coupled support and basic area payment. However, after 2022 direct support is to be wound down in England to zero in 2028, according to the ag bill currently going through Westminster.

This could have an impact on the Scottish budget if we want to retain the status quo. But 2022 seems a lifetime away when we don’t know what will be happening to farming over the next few weeks, let alone years.

It seems that the Cabinet Secretary’s mission to get the convergence uplift, which the Scottish Government believes is worth £160m, has been focused mainly on farmers who receive low area payments for region II and III land.

By threatening to cut arable payments, if no uplift transpires, perhaps the minister hopes to unite upland and low ground farmers. It may end up causing unwelcome division.