National Farmers' Union of Scotland : 16 January 17 - Brexit, Policy and Profitability on the Agenda for Ministerial Meeting

Article date:

16 January 2017

News Article Number:

08/17

Union hosts George Eustice on Renfrewshire farm

Brexit, future agricultural policy and profitable production were on the agenda when NFU Scotland met with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, George Eustice MP on a Renfrewshire farm this afternoon (16 January).

Mr Eustice, who had earlier addressed a farming conference in Glasgow, visited Gryffe Wraes Farm at Bridge of Weir, hosted by Willie Harper, who was recently elected chairman of NFU Scotland's Forth and Clyde Region.

Mr Harper, a tenant farmer running a beef herd of 240 cows, 150 Lleyn ewes and growing cereals on a contract basis provided the Minister with a tour of his farm, including his beef finishing unit. Willie was accompanied by the region's Vice Chairman Mark Donald - who also chairs the Union's New Generation Group; Livestock Committee Chairman Charlie Adam; Milk Committee Chair Graeme Kilpatrick and Environment and Land Use Committee Chairman, Angus McFadyen.

Speaking after the meeting, NFU Scotland's Chief Executive Scott Walker said: 'These remain hugely uncertain times for the industry but NFU Scotland remains on the front foot when it comes to engaging with key politicians on what Scottish agriculture needs to secure from the negotiations ahead.

'Policies that promote productive, profitable agriculture and reward and support the active farmer or crofter are central to our future and Mr Eustice saw clear evidence today of how important support is to a hard-working family farm.

'Tomorrow may see the Prime Minister refine her views on what approach she intends to take when we look at market access and trade deals that may need to be struck in the post-Brexit era. For Scottish agriculture, market access is a key driver for how our industry will move forward.

'We welcomed this opportunity to engage with the Minister on farm. It follows on from meetings in recent weeks with the Defra Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom and David Jones MP, Minister of State at the recently created Department for Exiting the European Union.

'These meetings are welcome, but crunch time is coming on Brexit and there would be real value to the industry if a round table meeting with all key politicians could be put in the diary so that preparedness for the greatest single challenge faced by our industry can be as good as it possibly can.'

Notes to Editors

• Photographs of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, George Eustice MP meeting with the NFU Scotland delegation at Gryffe Wraes Farm, Bridge of Weir today are available from [e-mail]

Ends

Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006