NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy will use seminar platform to mainly focus on funding for Scottish agriculture.
In light of the recent UK budget and challenges facing the industry, NFU Scotland and AgriScot have collaborated and secured the First Minister John Swinney MSP to accompany Union President Martin Kennedy on stage for its key debate at Scotland’s leading agricultural winter event, on Wednesday 13 November at 10am. They will also be joined by the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP for the seminar which will be chaired by the Chair of AgriScot, Robert Neill.
President Martin Kennedy will use the platform to draw the Ministers’ attention, once again, to all that farmers and crofters deliver: high-quality food production, climate and nature restoration, and thriving rural communities. In doing so he aims to send a crystal-clear message about the importance of securing future, multi-annual, ring-fenced funding for Scottish agriculture and that will deliver for Scotland’s economy, rural communities and the environment. In the short, medium and long term.
The UK Government delivered a budget on 30 October that threatens food production, family farming businesses and the environment. The responsibility for delivering future agricultural funding has been passed solely to the Scottish Government.
Despite an increase in the block grant for Scotland, the loss of a ring-fenced, multi-annual commitment on future funding is a significant blow for the sector and of major concern to Scottish farmers, crofters and wider agricultural industry, ahead of the Scottish Government’s budget on 4 December.
As there is no longer a ring-fence around agricultural funding, the case for support must be made alongside every other Scottish Government portfolios – health, education, social care, etc. That will be extremely challenging. Nothing can be assumed, and everything is to play for. The Union will be seeking assurances that there will be no ‘cliff-edge’ reduction in agricultural funding – something the industry has been promised on numerous occasions.
The seminar is sure to present lively debate and draw crowds. Event attendees are asked to note that space will be limited. To enable as many people as possible to watch proceedings, AgriScot organisers will be recording and streaming the seminar, along with all other seminars on the day.
Save time, and get through registration quickly by pre-registering for your pass – https://agriscot.co.uk/registration/
