Scottish Ag bill passes first stage

Legislation to replace the CAP in Scotland passed through the parliament this week. The rules for post Brexit agricultural support went through stage one, but will need two more stages before becoming law.

The Bill will see Scottish farmers continue with schemes largely the same as they are now until 2024, when more sweeping changes will be put in place. Over the next four years there will be some pilot schemes, and the Scottish Government has also promised to simplify the system.

However, some have criticised the legislation for lacking in detail and in ambition, although NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick welcomed the fact that it provided some necessary stability for farmers.

“That said, this Bill does not set a clear policy direction for Scottish agriculture and NFUS is absolutely clear that a new policy-focussed Bill must also be introduced as soon as is reasonably possible” he added.

Move to Scottish cattle database delayed

The Scottish cattle database will not be moved to ScotEID from the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) this summer. COVID-19 has meant that the move away from the CTS database, which covers all of Britain, will not happen until November 2020.

In response to a parliamentary question, Minister for Rural affairs Maria Gougeon explained that the pandemic had impacted the work done by some third party software providers who were critical to the switch to a Scottish database.

Scottish SAFs up on last year

Over 10,000 farmers have submitted their Single Application Form (SAF) to the Scottish Government, which is ahead of the same point last year.

Applicants have until 15 May to submit their forms and the Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing is urging farmers not to wait until the last minute. If farmers need support they are asked to contact their area office immediately as a late surge of forms could stretch staff which are often working from home.

Shearer shortage warning

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic will reduce the number of shearers arriving in the UK from countries like Australia and New Zealand. As a result, the farmer body is launching a new service to link farmers to individual shearers in their area to prevent problems at clipping this summer.

The NSA shearing list has names and contacts of people able to clip sheep across the country. Many on the list are farmers who shear their own sheep, and are willing to do extra on other farms. Details can be found on their website.