NFU Scotland members have been given fair warning not to expect the leadership to give them any sort of steer as to how to vote in next September’s independence referendum.
Chief executive Scott Walker made it clear that NFUS was non-political and would not be choosing sides.
He did offer assurances that members would be given plenty opportunities to hear form both camps, allowing them to make informed decisions.
“We may well be pushed and cajoled to take a position one way or the other but we will not move from our non-political position. I will certainly never express my personal views,” he said.
Members should, however, pose questions they would like answered and the union would provide a debating forum, but beyond that there was no guidance yesterday on a matter that Mr Walker admitted would influence every topic over the next 11 months.
On CAP reform, Mr Walker stressed his impatience at the slow progress made since the package was agreed at EU level in June.
“Our journey started more than three years ago, and since the Pack review we have worked flat out and won flexibilities in the recent deal agreed in Europe that take into account the many needs of farmers in Scotland,” he said.
“But now that the high-level deal has been done at a European level, we need the Scottish Government to kick-start the consultation process that will establish which of the options negotiated it will use.
“Feedback from our members underlines how frustrated they are about the lack of progress in this decision-making process.
“They are looking for greater clarity on key areas such as coupled payments in the beef sector, the pace of transition to new area payments for established businesses, new entrant support, equivalent greening measures and, most crucially, what level of support an individual farm business can expect to receive.”
He added: “The Scottish Government must pick up the pace as time is now getting short to develop a fix.
“We will be going round the country in December to talk to our members.
“For these meetings to deliver most benefit, we need the Scottish Government to have issued its consultation on its vision for new CAP arrangements in Scotland and the serious debate to have started,” he added.