SIR, – As a crofter who took over a bare land croft with no house, no fences and no livestock 40 years ago, I fully understand the difficulties facing those seeking to pursue active crofting.

As the chairman of a large active grazings committee, I see on a daily basis the impacts government policy has on active crofting.

It is, therefore, with deep disquiet that I see some crofters and others continue to swallow Scottish Crofting Federation propaganda, hook, line and sinker.

The ‘Areas of natural constraint scheme’, endorsed by SCF, is a charter for ‘slipper crofting’, absenteeism and abandonment and is a continuation of its apparent policy of opposing any scheme which targets support for those who are active.

SCF has consistently claimed that the policies pursued by NFUS have disadvantaged crofting unfairly and previously opposed the introduction of the BPS (three areas) and the ‘Scottish Upland Sheep Scheme’.

The SCF have failed to acknowledge that many crofters are, in fact, better off under NFUS’ ‘Three Area’ proposal and have never acknowledged that most active crofters receive some level of the higher Region 1 payment, as do some common grazings.

Some individual crofters receive large Region 1 payments – which are, in many cases, greater than some of the most extensive hill farms!

SCF continue to claim crofters are in receipt of only the lowest payments, whilst many crofters are, in fact, in receipt of Region 2 payment, as are many common grazings.

In some cases, the most active crofters have been allocated the lowest Region 3 payment level.

But this was not due to NFUS policy, but rather because of the iniquitous decision taken by Richard Lochhead to average the payment on common grazings, thus dragging the payments of the most active down to the lowest common denominator.

This policy decision was opposed by NFUS, but was not opposed by the SCF in any meaningful manner.

Crofters wishing to see active crofting within their parishes have a clear choice to make – support the SCF’s policy of ‘slipper crofting’ or support the organisation that has made clear commitments to target available funding to those actively pursuing crofting.

For those crofters who don’t believe their voice is being heard, I would recommend they join NFUS, attend their local area and branch meetings to see first hand the influence those crofting members have in the policy decision-making process and the level of support those crofting members receive from NFUS.

Alastair Culbertson

Crofter,

7 Ferrindonald, Sleat,

Skye