Adding the 20% LFASS reduction and the Brexit war chest cuts together, means Scottish farming is getting over £30m less funding. The Scottish budget states LFASS claimants will be £13m poorer, with no word on where the siphoned money is going. The decision to cut the LFASS payment rate might have been forced by the EU, however where the missing 20% ends up is within the Government’s gift.

Worryingly, the large sum of over £21m has been swiped from the agricultural department budget after the Government made a decision to only award RPID with £8.9m out of a potential £30m uplift from Westminster.

This is the same agricultural department that struggled with the implementation of the new CAP reform and is unable to develop an LFASS replacement or a new Area of Natural Constraint scheme because of tight resources.

Upon exiting the EU, we will be trialling new schemes and support systems, so some extra cash would be most welcome to ensure we have a system and rulebook fit for purpose.

Free flights needed

It’s good to see Martin Kennedy, Charlie Adam and Ian Sands all standing for the position of vice-president of NFUS. Surprisingly, candidates will all have to shell out over £1,500 for accommodation and flights to attend regional hustings. To prevent smaller and new farmers being put off coming forward in the future, the Union should fund at least some expenses – particularly travel to the northern isles.