Moray SNP News

LOCHHEAD MEETS NFUS AND LOCAL FARMERS AT KEITH SHOW

Moray’s SNP MSP Richard Lochhead met with representatives of the National Farmers Union Scotland and the local farming community at Keith Show. 

NFUS facilitated the meeting at Sunday’s show allowing Mr Lochhead the opportunity to hear directly from farmers about the current challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

Speaking after the meeting Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“It was great to catch up with some of Moray’s farming community at Keith Show and as always there was so much to discuss.

“Our farmers underpin our food and drink industry and have a key role to play in stewarding our land and protecting the environment. It’s important that the Scottish Government works with the industry to deliver a new agriculture policy that supports farmers to produce food in a way that is not only sustainable but also ensures Scotland’s food security.

“There’s no doubt there are big challenges facing Scotland’s farmers, not least the energy cost crisis that households and businesses across the country are struggling with. It’s deeply disappointing that farmers were excluded from the high level energy support by the UK Government, leaving many farmers struggling to cover the costs of rearing livestock and storing produce. The UK Government must look again at what additional support can be made available to support farmers who are struggling to absorb hikes in energy costs.

“Post-Brexit arrangements for our farmers have also been a catastrophe with the UK Government agreeing an unlevel playing field for our own food producers, as they face greater bureaucracy to export products than those importing into UK markets. The fact that UK Ministers have signed up to trade deals that give more agricultural trade rights away than we receive is a betrayal of the industry that feeds our nation and is at the heart of Scotland’s rural economies.”