Protection for whom?

The Wildlife Protection Bill, which appeared to have been delivered with some stealth this week against a smokescreen of First Minister electioneering and its various seismic machinations, plus political shenanigans surrounding 'Partygate' in London, has quite rightly drawn the ire of many rural lobby groups.

While there will be a lot of sympathy for some of requirements to protect certain raptors – white-tailed sea eagles excluded! – there is no recognition of the essence provided by the shooting industry and many farmers in the work that they do to provide the very environment in which raptors can thrive. Again, it would seem to be a green-tinged side-swipe at the shooting fraternity who have, to a massive extent, shown themselves to be positively proactive in both the preservation of their game and also in the aerial raptors that thrive on them.

There is also valuable work done in controlling predators which can have a devastating effect von ground-nesting birds and farm livestock.

There is an assumption in there that because of a few illegally killed birds, then all should be keeled by the same stick. It is a fact that these illegal deaths had been declining over the last few years and the worry must now be that the Scottish Government is using a very large club to beat a tiny minority about the head. And with it, challenging the rights of others to maintain legitimate sport – which, it should be pointed out, brings in a lot of income into some delicately balanced rural economies.

As for the implicit notion within the new framework that muirburning will face new curbs because of poor practice, that again does not take into account the actuality that careful use of this practice provides an environment in which many birds can thrive – and not just red grouse.

To imply that a deal of muirburn is carried out recklessly is disingenuous, because a whole host of studies have shown the many benefits brought about by a carefully planned schedule of muirburn – which the vast majority of it is in Scotland. And these studies have been shared widely with Government.

Encouraging new blood

There is no doubt in our minds that there is a new stream of fresh talent coming into agriculture and the success of Lantra Scotland's ALBAS awards have played a huge role in 'making farming sexy'.

While there remains a real element of hard and dirty work within the business of farming, there is also a growing use of technology that can help remove such drudgery. And that's where a generation that understands what benefits can be gleaned from the new technology revolution in agriculture means it is a bright future for them, but without the back-breaking menial labour that produced a generation where knee and hip replacements were par for the course.

A steady flow of young, talented people coming into the industry will make the most of the considerable technology that's now available – said the person whose mobile phone is on the blink and all contacts lost!