NFU Scotland (NFUS) has insisted that discussions on new support arrangements for food and farming must begin quickly so that farmers can start to plan ahead for the future.
At a Royal Highland Show press conference in the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum result, union president Allan Bowie acknowledged that this week’s dramatic events would mark a period of great uncertainty for Scotland’s farmers and crofters.
And he called on politicians to deliver on the commitments made in the referendum campaign about support for agriculture, as well as reassurances on terms of trade with the rest of Europe and worldwide.
“The union’s prime concern now is to look after Scottish farming interests and hold people to account,” he said.
“NFUS and other farming unions are going to have to show leadership to make sure farming is the priority in the negotiations ahead.”
Mr Bowie was less clear on the union’s position on a second independence referendum.
He said: “My strong argument would be ‘let’s see what kind of Europe we’ll have before we think of that’.
“We have a lot of fundamental issues to get our heads around now, and we need a clear signal from Westminster and the Scottish Government as to how we will be supported.
“We need to avoid knee-jerk reactions at this time.
“There has been a seismic shift in our political landscape and we need a period of stability, not least to allow our financial markets and economy to stabilise, before further major decisions should be made.”
Union chief executive Scott Walker said speculation was rife and people wanted answers.
“People are asking what’s going to happen to support payments immediately. The answer is that nothing is going to happen immediately,” he said.
“So, while we see all the turmoil, what we now need is negotiations in place in Europe.
“We’ve got fantastic produce and have to be proud of what we have.”
Union leaders said there had been no verbal communication with Defra, and no minister was available for comment.
However, a UK Government spokesperson said the Prime Minister had been clear there needed to be a system of agricultural support in the event of a decision to leave the EU.
But there was no sense of the urgency being demanded by NFUS.
“Going forward the Government will work with industry and the public to develop these new arrangements. But the PM set out that Article 50 will not be triggered immediately, so there is time for us to absorb the verdict of the British people and think about these things.
“Obviously this will all have to be negotiated, but the PM has been clear it is vital that British farming is profitable and remains competitive – it is the bedrock of the food and drink industry, Britain’s largest manufacturing sector.”
EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said he regretted but respected the decision of the British people to leave the European Union.
