Put the needs of crofters and farmers first

Holyrood says it will consider lifting the requirements on case-by-case basis where farmers and crofters are having difficulties meeting their commitments due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.

However, in such cases the Scottish Government confirmed the usual financial compensation payments would not be made.

Councillors Calum MacMillan and Donald Manford, two of four councillors who represent the Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay and South Uist ward of Comhairle na Eilean Siar, had called on Fergus Ewing MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, to lift the restrictions.

They stating: “The agricultural sector is characterised by self-employed people, many of whom continue to work actively and effectively irrespective of the age barriers which affect other areas of the economy and government service.

“Farmers and crofters are characterised by their work enthusiasm and they should be afforded every protection, financial assistance, and reduction in operational constraints available to the Scottish Government and its partner agencies.”

In a further statement, Councillor MacMillan also called on the Government to “change its focus” to “prioritising fresh food production and helping crofters and farmers during the Covid-19 pandemic rather than continuing with their beetles, bugs and birds benefit bias favoured by the ‘enviro‘-supermentalist lobby, agri-bureaucrats and politicians.”

He added: “Some crofters and farmers have environmental designations applied to their land requiring them to plough and prepare soil for planting in poor weather; constraints on agricultural activities to benefit grubs, bugs and beetles with requirements to conduct agricultural activities in a manner which are contrary to good working practices where these contrary measures are decided by agencies with an anti-agriculture sector agenda.

“St Kilda is cited by some of these agencies as the ideal rural area in that it is devoid of rural people as rural people are always ruining the landscape and disturbing the birds.

“These agencies have their raison d’etre to reduce agricultural activities, reduce food production and prevent people from living on their areas of rural land.

“Simple changes to Government policy will bring great benefit to crofters and farmers yet we hear nothing although the processes of Government continue during this time.

“Remote working for officials is abnormal and facilitated, yet for crofters and farmers who will endure illness and financial hardship and whose lifestyle necessitates remote working as the norm are expected to continue with their remote working practices as normal without special consideration, assistance or administrative accommodation by the Government for the disruption and dislocation that they will experience with their agricultural activities during this time of Covid19 pandemic.”

Responding to the councillors’ calls, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said Scottish farmers had been supported “with a number of financial packages” and stated that a total of £534 million had been paid out under the schemes since autumn last year, with over £6 million has been paid to farmers and crofters in the Western Isles.

They said: “While much of this money is routine annual payments, the convergence payments worth over £87 million to farmers and crofters across Scotland, is new money which has been owed to Scotland by the UK Government since 2014.

“We continue to support farmers and crofters through CAP based schemes, following the successes of 2018, and we are on track to meet all targets published in the 2019 payment strategy. The funding delivered under the CAP will support farmers and crofters in these challenging times.

“We are clear that where farmers and crofters have difficulty in meeting their environmental commitments due to the current restrictions then we are happy to consider these on a case by case basis and allow them to use the land without restrictions where that would be of benefit to them – but without receiving the compensation payment.

“We will continue to liaise closely with farmers and crofters and agricultural support businesses throughout this crisis to monitor its impact on food production. We are absolutely committed to ensuring that farmers and crofters are supported to continue to produce the food our nation needs.”

Peter Urpeth - Local Democracy Reporting Service

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