Calls to extend NVZ negotiations in Scotland rejected

Calls from NFU Scotland for the Scottish Government to extend the time period of negotiations with Brussels on the nitrate action programme were rejected this week by Scottish cabinet secretary, Richard Lochead.

Speaking today (14 November) at an AgriScot “head to head” seminar with NFUS president Jim McLaren, Mr Lochhead said he would be “lynched” if he sanctioned any further stalling of the introduction of new nitrates rules.

He claims Brussels is insisting nitrate rules are finalised before signing off the Scottish Rural Development Programme, but NFUS maintains there is lack of clarity on this.

“I would be lynched if I held up the Rural Development Programme in Scotland because of NVZs.”

“I’m responsible for all Scotland’s rural communities and my objective is to get the £1.6 billion SRDP programme into play as soon as possible,” said Mr Lochhead.

But Mr McLaren queried who would do the “lynching”, pointing out many of the recipients of the SRDP cash, including environmental schemes, are not due to make a fresh start until May.

“We are already 14 months behind and I’d much rather we tried very hard on NVZs and failed than go forward on this basis,” said Mr McLaren.

The Cabinet Secretary does, however, appear to have adjusted his position from earlier this week when he said the nitrate plan would be finalised within a matter of days, now stating it would be concluded in the next few weeks.

Kinross milk producer, George Lawrie, emphasised the seriousness of the new nitrate requirements at grassroots level, particularly the requirement for six months slurry storage capacity for dairy farmers.

And he was furious at the lack of communication with farmers from the Scottish government, saying in the past year he had not received a single letter on the issue of NVZ changes. Mr Lochhead responded that a letter to producers was now pending.