Jim Walker

So finally the new Labour Government in Westminster gets it’s day in the sun with the announcement of their first budget.

Scotland faces unprecedented rainfall and farming struggles. Explore how the wettest summer impacts agriculture and what it means for the future.

2024's non-summer and looming tax increases are hitting UK farmers hard. From weather woes to new budget fears, what’s next for the agricultural sector?

Explore the alarming trend of unkept pledges and budget overruns in public projects. Is there a solution?

Finally, some dry, warm weather to lift the spirits after the worst spring, certainly the wettest spring, I can remember.

The latest figures showing a massive 13,269 fewer suckler calf claims in 2023 is testament to the abject policy failure of Ms Gougeon and her Green pals.

The promise of 70% of future agriculture support payments post-2027 being targeted on Tier 1 and Tier 2 payments had already been announced in a written Parliamentary answer by Mairi Gougeon.

'The $64,000 question is how many farms, particularly smaller dairy and many beef farms, particularly in the west and north, where slurry not straw systems prevail, will be able to find the necessary investment to carry on rearing cattle beyond 2026, even if they want to?'

'If Kennedy isn’t prepared to follow either of these options, then every current NFUS member should vote with their feet and resign their membership immediately'

'It seems that NFUS are pinning their hopes on securing enough funding to stagger on through as we are until 2026. After that we will be totally in the lap of the Gods.'