2015 NFUS Annual Meeting

The AGM was an opportunity to listen to the key policy-makers and political figures. Topics included seeing ways for new CAP to bed in, the vision for land reform and the outcome of the independence referendum and Smith Commission in the Scotland Bill.

George Eustice, MP for the Cornish constituency of Camborne and Redruth since 2010. Coming from a farming family he was elected Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming, Food and Marine Environment in 2013.

The minister stressed that UK is very interested in opening up meat exports, pork to China and beef to USA.

As always the farming industry had experienced short term turbulence, livestock farmers had problem last summer to make money on the store cattle that they had bought. He was pleased that this situation had resolved itself.

Country of origin labelling supporting poultry, lamb and pork. Could do better with dairy products especially Irish milk made into butter.

Long term prospects look good and Scotland is placed to do exceedingly well in the export market.

The retiring NFUS milk chairman commented that we are importing more than half the cheese we consume. He described labels a a joke. Adams food – British and Irish. Surely controls can be tightened and we can have Scottish shelves on supermarkets. Why not use some of the export fund to promote our own product in our own country?

The minister agreed that import substitution was important but he was challenged from the floor again about inability to compete in EU. He said that it was about opening up markets to allow resilience. He highlighted the value of fifth quarter exports to China.

Charlie Adam, NFUS Livestock Convenor raised the Irish success in getting into US market and was concerned about lowering standards to allow US Beef to come in the other direction to make the trade deal work. The minister assured that there would be no watering down of food standards.

Further comment from the floor stressed the need to concentrate on the home market. The minister outlined the support through public sector procurement.

SFMTA President Elect Paul Boyle and Chief Executive Douglas Scott attended the NFUS Annual Dinner which was a very grand affair at St Andrews Bay Hotel with a veritable feast from the Scottish larder. During the dinner the annual award for someone who had earned the greatest respect in their sector was presented posthumously the Press and Journal's Farming correspondent, Joe Watson. Joe' family including his mother and brother attended the dinner.

Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead was due to address the conference on Tuesday morning (10th February) at 10:30 after the NFUS announce their successor to Nigel Miller as their President.