The potential loss of significant funding for farmers across the region prompted Cllr Colin Smyth, Chairman of the Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee to write to Richard Lochhead MSP Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment.

Dumfries and Galloway has a heavy reliance on both its agriculture and food & drink sectors which underpin the whole rural economy with our region producing 42% of Scotland’s dairy cows, 20% of Scotland’s beef herd and 15% of the national sheep flock.

The letter highlights the importance of a transition period, with any high level reductions to funding being made in later years.  The South of Scotland Alliance produced a report in May 2013 which highlighted that it will take time and targeted support to enable the region’s farmers and supporting industries to successfully adapt to the anticipated lower levels of direct farm support.

The letter also raises awareness of the need to support new entrants to the farming sector who will be significantly disadvantaged by the changes.

Cllr Smyth said
“I realise this reform is being driven by policy changes at the European Union, but I think that the Scottish Government can manage the implementation of these reforms in a way that can provide the best support for rural economies. Our region already faces challenges such as high youth unemployment, low levels of higher value jobs and fuel poverty so this withdrawal of funding would be difficult to bounce back from. I want to know what the Scottish Government is going to do to support farmers, for example will they use the Scottish Rural Development Fund Programme (SRDP) 2014-2020 to provide essential support so that this sector remains competitive? I wanted to raise our concerns and I look forward to a response”

Andrew McCornick, National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) Regional Chairman said
“NFUS is pleased to be working on this important issue with Dumfries and Galloway Council as we share the same concerns for jobs and communities in the region following the introduction of the new CAP Reform next year. Our regional economy relies heavily on agriculture which in turn engages a whole host of supply and service industry jobs whilst maintaining the region’s distinctive countryside as a tourism asset. We share the same desire as the Council to get the best possible deal from the Scottish Government, in order to adapt to the coming challenges as effectively as possible, whilst minimising the detrimental effects of the many millions of pounds that will no longer enter the region’s economy.”