Tories launch special manifesto for rural areas

The launch of a blueprint on future farming support measures for consultation within 100 days of the May election was promised yesterday by the Scottish Conservative Party as it unveiled its manifesto for the May Election.

Scottish Conservative party leader Douglas Ross, launches the party manifesto at the Engine Works in Glasgow. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The party claimed that farmers were still waiting for the details of a new agricultural policy which the Scottish Government said would be released before the end of 2020:

“We must not waste more time” said party leader Douglas Ross as he launched a special manifesto for rural areas at the weekend.

“Uncertainty over the new approach means that farmers are holding off from investing in their businesses until the direction of travel has been set out.”

The manifesto claimed that changes to the current support system were also required in the short term until the new system was implemented. It listed improvements to the Basic Payment System, the removal the Crop Diversification requirement and amendments to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme, Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme and Beef Efficiency Scheme as early targets.

The party also said it would reverse cuts to the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme and agree a multi-year extension until the new agricultural policy was implemented

It promised that support for Young Farmers and New Entrants would be reinstated and said it would encourage intergenerational partnerships with mentoring.

A national agricultural Institute of Technology was also proposed to bring together farmers, colleges and universities to deliver short modular training courses alongside an additional £10 million a year for agricultural R&D and to support pilot farms.