As the dust of General Election fever finally starts to settle and the new Labour government finds its feet, questions are being asked over the more specific nuances of their policy plans.

The UK’s new centre-left government has sworn to champion British farming and prioritise food security, but questions remain over Labour’s plans for the country’s post-Brexit farming policies.

The party, led by Sir Keir Starmer, achieved historic victories in several rural Conservative strongholds, but Labour’s manifesto did not mention a specific budget for farming.

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Their Conservative and Liberal Democrat colleagues, on the other hand, promised an additional £1bn for the agricultural sector.

We know the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) area-based payments will be phased out by 2027 and replaced by four farming policies implemented by Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Scotland’s new plans remain aligned with the EU’s per-hectare subsidies and associated funding for sustainable practices, while England and Wales have moved to systems rewarding environment-friendly farming.

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However, Scotland has unique issues to factor into future plans – and the hot topic this week is our Scottish island communities.

A new report has shown that in their current form, future policy proposals present some risks for some island economies, environments, and communities, and this is a longstanding worry for those not living on the mainland.

So, what does the future hold for Scottish island agricultural populations?

Only time will tell, but what is in no doubt is the fact that their unique needs have to be taken into consideration going forward when it comes to policymaking and the development of the Rural Support Plan.

Farmers are proud of what they contribute to island life, its economy and its people, and the agricultural sector is firmly embedded as the bedrock of these communities – as it is the length and breadth of the country.

The findings have been welcomed by councils in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, who are all keen to have their voices heard and their interests recognised nationally.

Hopefully, this newly-published official data will mean they get a fairer kick of the ball moving forward, and that their needs are considered on a more even playing field with their mainland counterparts.

On a brighter note, Scots all but swept the boards at the Great Yorkshire Show last week, heading south of the Border and coming back home with the individual beef and dairy inter-breed titles, and the reserve overall in the sheep lines.

Scottish entries were also key players in team and pairs competitions, with numerous Scottish participants in the line-ups of those taking the tickets.

No mean feat by any manner of means, and a shining testament to the quality of not only the stock, but also the quality of the stockmanship coming out of our wee country. It proves once again that Scottish agriculture is nothing short of a force to be reckoned with – and that it isn’t something that should be underestimated or overlooked…