Speaking ahead of the National Farmers Union Scotland rally at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 2 November, Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, who is a partner in a farming business in Orkney, said:
“Farmers are a vital part of local economies across the Highlands and Islands. Coming from a farming background myself, I have seen first-hand the issues that the rural economy is facing. So it’s great to see NFU Scotland turning out at the Scottish Parliament to engage with representatives from across Scotland and across the party divide."
“Sadly, farms in Scotland have faced unprecedented challenges over recent years and farmers have been kept in the dark by the SNP-Green coalition about the future regulation and support for their sector. We will soon be looking at a new Agriculture Bill at Holyrood, but after several years of calls for more information, we still don’t have the details about how new arrangements will look in practice."
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join the rally. But I have made my continued support known to the NFUS and am aware that my Scottish Conservative colleagues will be meeting with local representatives – in addition to our party leader Douglas Ross – who is also from a rural background – addressing the rally. As more powers have come to the Scottish Parliament, it is absolutely essential that we have proper proposals set out by the Scottish Government to allow businesses to plan ahead, particularly on key aspirations like meeting net zero targets."
“My best wishes go to the NFUS, particularly those members and supporters travelling down to Edinburgh from our region. It’s vital the Scottish Government starts listening to the concerns our sector is raising.”
NFU Scotland page on the rally is here :https://www.nfus.org.uk/policy/rally-at-scottish-parliament-2022.aspx
