Borders MSP, Rachael Hamilton, met with NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick and Borders farmers at the Borders Union Show to discuss farming issues arising from recent extreme weather events.
Farmers raised concerns over the lack of support to help them cope with the bad winter weather, especially as result of the ‘Beast From The East’ in March.
Concerns were also raised about the lack of support for fallen stock and the shortage of straw for their livestock. The impact of the hot weather on the growth of wheat and barley combined with last year’s wet harvest has had a negative impact on the amount of straw produced.
NFUS members were asking for greater collaboration between lowland and upland farmers to ensure that those who can bale straw do so in order to help out those who are struggling.
Farmers have suggested a possible haulage subsidy to help keep the cost of fodder down for producers who have suffered from a prolonged period of bad weather.
At the Border Union Show, Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
‘Farmers have been working hard to mitigate the damage caused by the Beast from the East, only to be hit now by drought-like conditions this summer’
‘Support from the Scottish Government, whilst welcomed, hasn’t sufficiently dealt with the issues at hand due to the way it has been allocated on a 'one size fits all' basis'
‘There needs to be more of a targeted approach to help those who have suffered large losses’
‘Better collaboration between upland and lowland farmers would help ensure that there is an ample supply of baled straw’
‘A fodder haulage subsidy would be very effective in keeping fodder prices down, similar to the one in operation in Ireland’
‘I will be calling on the Scottish Government to look into this so that we can help out our hardworking farmers with the effects of the extreme weather conditions’