Scottish Government

"Scottish farmers and crofters deserved a Budget that recognised their indispensable role in Scotland’s rural and national prosperity"

Ben McClymont, chair of NFU Scotland Next Generation committee has called on MSPs to back the next generation of farmers in the Scottish Budget on December 4

First Minister John Swinney said his Government would return the £46 million taken away from the agriculture Budget in previous years but could not guarantee a commitment to longer-term funding due to only having 'information' for one financial year

The Government said there also been a long-term trend in the decline of cattle numbers

Previous surveys by Quality Meat Scotland have never recorded a value above £100 million

The Scottish Greens claimed the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 was acting as a 'loophole' in the fox hunting ban. But politicians argued the legislation's licensing scheme had enabled farmers to control predators on farmland

"Every crofter has different strengths and areas of expertise, and it is expected that all participants will have knowledge to share, leading to skills development across the whole community"

Ten dairy farmers in Dumfries and Galloway and two in Ayrshire have been given 12 months' notice

"I foresee years of friction if this goes ahead"