The future reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the critical issues facing tenant farmers, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said yesterday.
Date:
Thu, 01 Sep 2011
Source:
Scottish Government
Scottish Government:
website
Mr Lochhead was speaking during a visit to Golspie where he met a number of members of the Scottish Tenant Farmers' Association, including chairman Angus McCall, to discuss issues affecting their sector, including the future of tenancies, provision of land for new entrants, inward investment on tenanted farming and opportunities for renewable energy.
Mr Lochhead said:
"I agree with the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association that the future design of the Common Agricultural Policy will be crucial for the ongoing success of the tenant farming sector.
"Thanks to the Pack Inquiry, we have already made great progress and we will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to deliver the best possible outcome.
"Today has given me a good opportunity to discuss with tenant farmers the issues facing their sector and the steps we have already taken to improve the climate for letting farm land. I have heard views on their vision for the future of agricultural tenancies and we also discussed issues of new entrants, inward investment and opportunities and challenges around renewables.
"We recently consulted on legislation which will further improve the situation for tenant farmers and our proposals received broad support. We are currently considering the responses before bringing forward legislation to the Scottish Parliament.
"We have been working with the Tenant Farming Forum to address the issues they have raised and will continue to do so as we move towards October when the European Commission will publish formal proposals for the future of CAP."
The Scottish Government recently consulted on the Agricultural Holdings (Amendments) (Scotland) Bill.
The Tenant Farming Forum is made up of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
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