SHORTER FOOD supply chains could make the UK more resilient in the face of pandemics and climate change – but it will need ‘bold government intervention’ to reshape the economics of food supply. A new Soil Association report suggested that Covid-19 had both exposed the cracks in our food system and highlighted the ways that some innovative farmers, businesses, and councils were already pushing towards stronger, more sustainable, local sourcing. What was needed now, argues the report, is a major government-led incentive to encourage shorter food chains by redirecting the £2billion spent annually on public sector food.

Fairer pricing for distillery grains was pushed back up the political agenda in June, with ScotGov asking farmers, distillers and the bioenergy sector for information about the impacts that renewable heat subsidies had on the market. In a letter inviting information, rural economy secretary, Fergus Ewing and energy minister, Paul Wheelhouse, stressed that distillery co-products are an important source of protein and fibre, but noted that the amount used in Scotland as livestock feed has decreased in recent years as prices have increased. Specifically, they ask if UK Government bioenergy incentive schemes have affected competition for these ‘bio-resources’.

Careless behaviour in the countryside post-lockdown could heighten wildfire risk in Scotland, according to evidence coming to light as the year rumbled on. The warmest spring on record coincided with the nationwide lockdown which saw many people confined to their homes for weeks on end. With lockdown measures beginning to lessen during phase one of the Scottish Government’s plans, the public had been desperate to get out and explore their newfound freedoms, but this has been met with a warning that disposable barbecues and tinder dry conditions could lead to dangerous consequences. The risk of wildfires in Scotland remained exceptionally high following the period of hot dry weather and the public were urged to leave items such as barbecues at home. This warning came following a spate of wildfires south of the border, including one on Bamford Moor in Derbyshire’s Peak District on Saturday evening. The fire, which is believed to have been started by a barbecue, was tackled by gamekeepers using their own specialist firefighting equipment until fire services arrived.

Grazing cattle’s greenhouse gas emissions had been overestimated, according to ground-breaking new research by UK scientists. Previous work on livestock emissions cut corners by including generalised data on the chemical composition of cattle waste – but more detailed work by Rothamsted Research found that cattle on pasture mixes including white clover produce almost half the amount of nitrous oxide than is currently used in the official figures driving UK climate change policy. Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas that is 265 times more harmful than Co2, and can account for 40% of beef supply chain emissions. As such, the Rothamsted results may offer a route by which UK farming can achieve its ‘net zero’ ambition by 2040.

June saw rural tourism and hospitality businesses being told to prepare for a provisional return to trading from July 15. This announcement was made by rural economy and tourism secretary Fergus Ewing and would be subject to public health advice and progression to Phase 3 of the Scottish Government lockdown route-map. “I’ve been engaging with businesses since the beginning of the outbreak and I have heard their calls for more clarity which today I can provide,” said Mr Ewing. “Businesses should start to prepare for a provisional return to trading – with appropriate safety guidelines – on July 15, 2020. This date cannot be definitive and is conditional on public health advice and progression to Phase 3 of the route map. Businesses must now use this time to satisfy the necessary regulations and adapt to the new way of living.”

The UK Government appeared to have back-tracked on its commitment to not allowing cheap, low standard imports to enter the UK, by considering a new ‘dual-tariff’ regime – which could see US products such as hormone-fed beef allowed in, but subject to higher import tariffs. According to reports, UK ministers wanted to use tariffs to make it uneconomical for US producers to export low standard produce to the UK, but this will only act as a deterrent, raising concerns that products such as chlorinated chicken could be given the go-ahead.

With The Royal Highland Show cancelled for 2020, farmers were urged to reach out to those they would normally spend this precious time of year with. In support of RSABI’s #KeepTalking campaign to tackle loneliness and mental health in farming during lockdown, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland asked all its members and would-be show visitors to pick up the phone to five people they would normally catch up with at the event. RHASS chairman, Bill Gray, explained the #Phone5 Initiative: “The cancellation of the Royal Highland Show has left a huge hole in the agri-community’s social calendar and it will be greatly missed. It is important that we don’t lose sight of the importance of staying connected to old friends and acquaintances”.

A UK dairy campaign had already reached over 60million people in lockdown – across national press and social media – since it was launched in mid-May. The 12-week campaign ‘Milk Your Moments’ was launched as part of a joint initiative to help boost demand for dairy production, after it took a substantial hit with the closure of cafes and restaurants as a result of Covid-19. The campaign highlighted everyday moments of human connection – such as having a tea or coffee break virtually with friends – as well as raising money for the UK’s leading mental health charities Mind, SAMH and Inspire. The promotional campaign has been seen by 29.5m people in the national press and 33m across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in the past month. A further 2.6m have received geo-targeted social media adverts when they are close to supermarkets and convenience stores. AHDB dairy strategy director Paul Flanagan said: “We’re delighted with the initial results from the campaign and to play our part as an industry to support people’s mental health during the lockdown."

In an extraordinary move, the National Sheep Association publicly rebuked Conservative MPs for ‘manipulative’ use of quotes regarding a possible trade deal with the United States. In public statements, UK trade secretary, Liz Truss and Scots MP John Lamont seized upon a quote by NSA chief executive, Phil Stocker, apparently backing a UK-US Free Trade Agreement on the grounds that it would benefit sheep farmers in all parts of Great Britain. Clarifying its position on US trade, the NSA said that it was ‘disappointed’ by the misuse of the statement. Mr Stocker said: “When putting a press statement out, we do so in good faith that the press and other sources wishing to reference it will only use the quote within the context it is given. We have seen too many examples where MPs, Government sources and the press, have picked up on just one sentence within a press statement we released on May 5 this year, and we are sufficiently concerned that we feel we need to set the record straight."

The Scottish Government announced its earliest ever delivery of agricultural support payments to Scottish farmers and crofters – despite the challenges thrown at them by the ongoing pandemic. Addressing parliament, cabinet secretary, Fergus Ewing, said that despite Covid-19 coming at a difficult time in the rural payments schedule – with extra pressure this year from the EU to deliver pillar two payments by the end of June instead of the usual October deadline – there was not a ‘single glitch or gap in the service’. “At the earliest point ever under the CAP we have met the European Union’s statutory deadline for pillar one payments,” reported Mr Ewing. “On June 12, 95.24% of basic payment scheme, greening and young farmer payments were made to Scotland’s farmers and crofters delivering £406m to the sector. I can further advise that the statutory target has also been met for our coupled support schemes, delivering a further £46m of support for livestock producers.” As of Tuesday, June 23, the Scottish Government met the EU’s tighter deadline for pillar two payments, delivering over £82m in funding amounting to 95.7% of the total. Within this fund, nearly £45m in LFASS funds, equating to 96.8% of claims, has been delivered.

Brexit was back in the news after a new survey revealed financial and planning concerns connected to what the world will be like for UK farmers after we leave the EU. The comprehensive survey by Scotland’s Rural College and the James Hutton Institute, conducted on behalf of the Scottish Government, interviewed almost 2500 farmers, crofters and smallholders, and found that around three-quarters of them had a sceptical or pessimistic view of the industry post-Brexit. The new briefing note found three main types of farmer based on their outlook towards Brexit. A quarter (26%) were positive to the post-withdrawal landscape; around 37% of respondents stated negative views towards the outcome for a post-withdrawal Scottish agriculture; and the remaining 37% stated more neutral views, but had concerns about future planning for their farm businesses. The analysis also found differences in the farm population which drive these outlooks. Specifically, farmers with ‘higher levels of education’ were more likely to be actively preparing for Brexit compared to others.