Rachael Hamilton MSP has urged the Scottish Government to give clarity over the future of farm payments following a visit with a Hawick farmer.
She met with John Tullie, 2021 Tweed Forum River Champion, who farms at Heronhill and Teviothead near Hawick. Mr Tullie has been making small changes to his land for the past decade, planting trees, rewilding, and fencing off watercourses, but he wants to do more and he set about implementing a whole-farm conservation plan.
He showed Rachael the land at Heronhill and the various schemes he has been implementing to increase biodiversity, improve grazing and facilitate better access opportunities for Hawick residents.
Mrs Hamilton said the visit highlighted the need for the Scottish Government to boost funding to cover outlays on Agri-Environment Climate schemes. She also called for a renewed focus on the new farm payments scheme to incentivise innovation and environmentalism.
She stressed that the new payment model must take into account efforts made by farmers prior to a future scheme being launched, rather than starting afresh.
The Borders MSP took the opportunity to emphasise the lack of funding the Scottish Government would have to sustain farm payments and schemes, if Scotland were independent. This would be due to a reduced tax take from businesses and Government debt.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“The SNP Government really are dragging their heels when it comes to giving clarity on the future of payments.
“I saw first-hand the fantastic work that John Tullie has been putting into his farm, yet he like many other farmers, wants clarity on the future of agri-schemes.
“In England, there are new funding streams becoming available regularly, and whilst they are not a silver bullet, they offer farmers the opportunity to plan ahead.
“We see no detail from the SNP Government, and it is frustrating for farmers who want to embrace new innovative methods in farming, but do not have the tools to do so.
“Their ambition is sadly not matched by Government funding right now”.
