Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Richard Lochhead urging him to set the new Pillar One and Pillar Two agricultural support schemes in such a way to sustain the Highlands and Islands crofting way of life.

Dave said, “I am extremely concerned at the suggestion from the Pillar One Consultation that Rough Grazing support be as low as 20 to 25 euros per Hectare.

“There are very real worries among crofters and crofting organisations that at this level of support many crofts will cease to be viable. This will inevitably lead to land abandonment, rural depopulation and a substantial fall in the numbers of young stock coming to market from the north-west.

“I am therefore urging the Scottish Government to set the rates for Rough Grazing on a scale starting at the very least at 35 euros per Hectare. This should still allow a rate to be set for higher intensity farms at over 200 euros per hectare.

“A further concern I have relates to the Pillar Two proposal that the Crofters Agricultural Support Scheme (CCAGS) be wound up and replaced with a scheme open to all farms of less than 50 hectares. This threshold defines almost three quarters of all Scotland’s farms and crofters would lose out to the larger higher intensity operators.

“I feel that the crofting way of life continues to need it own unique scheme and given that crofts are defined in law it would easily be possible to define a unique Pillar Two scheme that provides adequate support to the crofting community.

“Further still I would also urge a rapid movement to the new designation “Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC).

“I believe these measures together will protect the unique crofting way of life, will keep folk on the land, and will continue to supply young stock at, for example Dingwall Mart, for fattening elsewhere in Scotland.”

Note:

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Cabinet Secretary

Dave is extremely concerned at the suggestion from the Pillar One Consultation that Rough Grazing support be as low as 20 to 25 euros per Hectare.

He has noted the very real worries among crofters and crofting organisations that at this level of support many crofts will cease to be viable. This will inevitably lead to land abandonment, rural depopulation and a substantial fall in the numbers of young stock coming to market from the north-west.

He is therefore urging you to set the rates for Rough Grazing on a scale starting at the very least at 35 euros per Hectare.

A further concern relates to the Pillar Two proposal that the Crofters Agricultural Support Scheme (CCAGS) be wound up and replaced with a scheme open to all farms of less than 50 hectares. This threshold defines almost three quarters of all Scotland’s farms and crofters would lose out to the larger higher intensity operators.

Dave feels that the crofting way of life continues to need it own unique scheme and given that crofts are defined in law it would easily be possible to define a Pillar Two scheme that provides adequate support to the crofting community.

He would also urge a rapid movement to the new designation “Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC)”