Future support, funding and policy transition was top of the agenda as NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy welcomed Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney MSP to the family farm in Highland Perthshire this week.

This was the organisation’s first formal meeting with the First Minister since his appointment in May. The First Minister was accompanied on the visit by cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP.

Mr Kennedy is a tenant farmer in Aberfeldy and farms with his wife Jane and three daughters. They have 600 ewes and 60 cows on the farm rising from 800ft to 2500ft. Two of Martin and Jane’s daughters, Katrina and Yvonne accompanied the ministerial party on their tour of the farm.

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Formal discussions focussed on future agricultural support in Scotland and funding allocations between the proposed four-tiered framework, specifically the intended budget split between Tier 1 and Tier 2 from 2026 onwards. The transition from current support policies to future support arrangements, to be phased in from now until 2028 and including new conditionality and a replacement for Less Favoured Area support, were also discussed.

Scottish Government backing was also sought for NFU Scotland’s lobbying effort to securing an increased, ring-fenced and multi-annual agricultural budget from the UK Government and Scotland's share of that budget to also increase.

The involvement in the meeting of Martin and Jane’s daughters, Katrina and Yvonne, provided the platform to discuss Scottish Government support for the next generation of Scottish farmers and crofters and re-engagement with the starter farm initiative.

NFU Scotland also took the opportunity to raise concerns over the need for an appeals process as part of the new beef calf scheme; species management; watercourse management; improved application process for capital funding and its opposition to National Park proposals.

Speaking after the meeting, NFUS president Martin Kennedy said: “As we move to new support arrangements, it is vital that the Scottish Government takes the industry with it during the transition if it is to secure the required outcomes on food production, biodiversity and reduced emissions.

“We welcomed further confirmation that at least 70% of the Scottish agricultural budget will be delivered through Tiers 1 and 2 of the new support structure. We made it clear that, on the funding split between Tiers 1 and 2, conditionality in both Tiers meant that a 70:30 split is justified.

“Scottish farming and crofting need a funded and deliverable package of future support and we will continue to be clear in our asks of the Scottish Government on exactly that. Central to that is securing an increased multi-annual, ring-fenced budget from the UK Government.”

First Minister John Swinney said: “I was very grateful to Martin Kennedy for the invitation to visit his family farm in Highland Perthshire. Engagement with the agriculture sector will be crucial as we manage the transition to net zero, and I was grateful to get the opportunity to see some fabulous examples of good work taking place at Lurgan Farm.

“Scottish Government values its relationship with the farming sector. We will continue to work closely with NFU Scotland and others on issues such as securing a multi-year funding arrangement for agriculture with the new UK Government. That will ensure rural Scotland does not lose out in the wake of Brexit and recognise the capacity of our land to help feed our nation and deliver on climate and nature outcomes.

“Changes to agricultural payments are coming in 2025 and all farmers and crofters need to act now to ensure they are ready. Scottish Government has already provided more than £3.9 million in grant funding in response to 4700 claims to support agricultural businesses through the Preparing for Sustainable Farming scheme.”