Agribusiness News August 2024 – Policy Brief

Crofting Law Consultation

In response to crofting playing an increasing role in tourism, renewable energy generation, forestry, peatland restoration, beekeeping and small-scale horticulture production; the Scottish Government have launched a consultation on proposals for changes to and simplifications of crofting law.

The ideology is to ensure that crofting legislation enables and supports the sustainability of crofting, of crofters and crofting communities, and allows crofting to modernise, innovate, diversify and adapt to help meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

To help create opportunities for new entrants, encourage active management of crofts and common grazings, and to support the rural population; the  topics being consulted on include: entry to crofting, crofting communities, strengthening residency and land use,  use of common grazings,  and enhanced Crofting Commission powers.

A link to the consultation documents can be found here.  The consultation period ends on the 2^nd of September 2024.

Fly Tipping

Under the new Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill, farmers and crofters will no longer be held liable for clearing up fly tipping.  Local authorities will only be allowed to serve notice requiring waste to be removed if it is satisfied that the owner or occupier was neither responsible for the fly tipping nor did they give permission for waste to be deposited on their land.

If the local authority can trace the fly tipping back to an individual, a fixed penalty notice will be issued but as yet, no details have been released as to who will be responsible for the cost of removing the waste.

Red Grouse Licences

Under the Wildlife Management & Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 also known as ‘the Grouse code’, it is illegal to shoot or take red grouse from an area without a licence; this applies to both walked up and driven grouse shoots.

To apply to be a licence holder, you must either be the landowner or the occupier.  This includes sporting tenants.  Applications can be made online on the Nature Scot website.

Applicants will need to provide:

• a map which shows the landholding boundary and area over which you have the right to kill or take red grouse.
• A grid reference within the landholding.
• Confirmation that you will comply with the Code of practice for grouse moor management.

Farm Advisory Service – Management Grants

The Scottish Government has recently increased the amount of funding for professional support aimed at identifying strengths and new opportunities tailored to each individual businesses.

Funding for Integrated Land Management Plans have been increased to £2,000 per business; £1,600 for Specialist Advice Plans, £660 for new Carbon Audits and £330 for subsequent Audits. Further details and application forms can be accessed here:

https://www.fas.scot/integrated-land-management-plans-ilmps/

https://www.fas.scot/specialist-advice/

Slurry Store and Irrigation Lagoon Grants
The Scottish Government budget available for slurry storage and stand-alone irrigation lagoons in the AECS 2024 round has now been finalised.  The threshold score for both applications has been set at 20 points and above.  Applicants who were not successful will be notified shortly.

Farm Assurance Review

The UK Farm Assurance Review leadership group which includes AHDB and NFUS have launched an industry wide comprehensive review of Farm to Fork Assurance Schemes.  The review will include a snapshot of UK Farm Assurance Standards and will also examine how the standards can be developed to meet the evolving needs of members, the national and international markets they serve, sector diversity,  and how assurance schemes can and should fit with regulation and government schemes to best serve members.

As the review aims to seek the views of all farmers, crofters, growers and supply chains about all farm assurance schemes with a view to ‘revolutionising farm to fork assurance, making it truly fit for the future’.  To have your say, please access the survey at https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/promaraf-2021/the-uk-farm-assurance-review.  The survey closes on the 31^{st of} August 2024.

Date	Action
30 August 2024	The revised closing date for the June Census 2024
1 September	Scottish Upland Support Scheme Application Window opens

Christine Beaton, christine.beaton@sac.co.uk