Will the QMS Cattle and Sheep standards see a bonfire of red tape, or just a trim around the edges?

For years, the consensus among farmers is that the QMS rule book has grown well beyond what’s necessary for both customers and producers.

The initial concept of assurance—aimed at regaining confidence in the red meat sector following the BSE crisis in the 1990s—was well-meaning and created a point of difference for Scottish cattle and sheep.

For years, this coincided with a Scotch Premium, making the additional requirements easier to tolerate.

However, the list of standards now seems to have incorporated dozens of requirements from other rule books such as SEPA, local authorities, and RPID. Since farm assurance is a voluntary scheme paid for by its members, the rules must more closely reflect their wishes.

If pushed too far, farmers will simply walk away, as demonstrated by the eradication of the AHDB Potato Board.

While this is well-trodden ground, QMS appear to be heading in the right direction with its rallying call to refine the rules and cut duplication.

The devil will be in the detail, though—if the burden on farmers isn’t significantly reduced, it could become an exercise in rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

So, seize the moment: give QMS your feedback and don’t hesitate to delve into the rule book to pick out the areas that need the most drastic changes.

Meanwhile, one herd unlikely to gain the Scotch label is the proposed Auroch cattle destined for Dundreggan Estate.

One minute, environmentalists are lambasting cattle for supposedly farting the planet into oblivion, and now a group plans to import prehistoric giant bovines from the continent.

We already have thousands of perfectly adapted cattle quietly grazing Scotland’s hills to perfection, with no need for imports.

Especially in a time of heightened fears over bluetongue, this vanity project is the last thing the industry needs.

It would have made far more sense for the estate to head down to the sale at Oban and purchase some of the finest Highland cattle money can buy—plus, plenty of roadside appeal.

Millions of travellers will be enjoying the roadside efforts of Young Farmers, who are bringing smiles to journeys with their bale art.

These bold creations do a fantastic job of highlighting the humour and creativity within our industry.

Well done to all the clubs who took part—you’re making our farming community proud.

But as Ross Janoch proved this week, bale art doesn’t have to convey a message to millions; it can simply ask one very important question.

The Forfar farmer arranged 124 straw bales into a marriage proposal for his girlfriend, Sara Robertson, who was so impressed she said yes.

The Young Farmers have shown that bales can be both funny and thoughtful, and Mr Janoch reminded us that we can still find romance amongst the straw!