It's just not cricket, Mr Umpire Lochhead

THE past seven days have been as they say, somewhat interesting from the farming perspective. However, I was glad to escape from my desk over the weekend and travel down to Yorkshire to spend some time with the family and attend the second day of the Test match at Headingley between England and the West Indies. I know that cricket is a complete turn-off for many Scots, but I find it fascinating.

Asked what it is that makes cricket such great game, I invariably respond by saying that is rather akin to a three-dimensional chess match. That's where the connection with farming begins to click into place. Richard Lochhead, the cabinet secretary for rural affairs - I still find "minister" a better title - is going to be faced with a range of problems requiring rapid solutions if he is to enjoy a decent working relationship with farmers. If not, he will be on a sticky wicket.

Last Wednesday, David Henderson-Howat, an extremely senior civil servant with the Scottish Executive, told the annual general meeting of the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, that the likely rate of modulation - taxing in common parlance - could well be as high as 21 per cent. This simply is not cricket and runs completely counter to what the SNP stated in its election manifesto.

Civil servants come in many guises, but they are both unelected and unaccountable to the general public. Lochhead is going to have move rapidly down the wicket to stop this nonsense. Putting the rate of modulation at over 20 per cent by 2013 is a complete no-ball. The players of the farming world, namely NFU Scotland and allied organisations, have sent Lochhead back to his pavilion in Pentland House to sort this out, and time is not on his side with Brussels demanding to know what Scotland intends regarding its rural development programme. If the wrong choice is made, then Scotland's farming industry will be at a serious competitive disadvantage compared with many other member states and regions within the EU.

All of that happened last Wednesday, but there was more action to come the very next day when the Scottish Beef Cattle Association (SBCA) staged its "Beef Fayre" in Lanark market. Having only been formally established just over six months ago, it was a creditable performance and attracted a very decent crowd. There are some who regret the fact that the SBCA has chosen to break away from the UK-wide National Beef Association (NBA). I understand that view, but it was almost inevitable, given the personality clashes that began to become apparent two years ago.

A bunch of Scots, led by the doughty John Cameron, increasingly took issue with what they perceived as the dictatorial attitude of Robert Forster, the chief executive of the NBA. It all came to a head at the NBA annual general meeting two years ago. I know, because I was there and most certainly did not receive an unrestrained welcome from some of the English delegates. But it was an AGM, and as a member of the farming media, I had every right to attend the public part of the proceedings.

Travelling back to Edinburgh later it was clear to me that there was no future for Scotland in a UK-wide organisation. The beef industry had to be devolved.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that there is a degree of envy on the part of finishers of prime cattle south of the Border at the considerable premium paid for Scottish cattle. Sadly, that premium is currently at its lowest level for several years as the multiples turn the screw on both processors and producers. The SBCA, if it is to succeed and prosper, will have to address this issue with a degree of urgency. A pledge to that effect was made in Lanark by Brian Simpson, the recently appointed development officer with the SBCA. He knows his way around the red-meat industry, having some years ago led the team at the Scotch Quality Beef and Lamb Association. There has to be fair play from the supermarkets, and quickly.

I did enjoy my few hours at Lanark and have to confess that I am now a convert persuaded that electronic identification of cattle and sheep can and will work. Indeed, it is the future. Journalists tend not just to be sceptics, but more likely downright atheists, when told that this or that new innovation is the answer to every conceivable problem. A demonstration of the technology was set up for us with a bunch of sheep put through a high-tech race equipped with all the latest gismos. We asked every difficult question we could think of, even suggesting that the sheep had been trained to run through the race like performers in a circus. But each expression of dubiety only resulted in a highly positive answer from the man in charge. All that is required now is for the government to make up its mind on what it actually requires from the industry. It's over to you Mr Umpire Lochhead!

Finally, having travelled a few miles over the past week, it was grand to view the countryside from the comfort of a train on the East Coast line between Edinburgh and York. And my verdict on the crops? East Lothian and Berwickshire look as well as I can ever remember, Northumberland and Durham promise much, but the picture in Yorkshire is more mixed. But I did enjoy the cricket on Saturday and would have no hesitation in putting the mighty Kevin Pietersen in to bat for the farming team. He has some clout.