Euro Agri VIP Visits Highland Perthshire

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Euro Agri VIP Visits Highland Perthshire

Deputy Head of Cabinet for Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, recently visited West Park Farm in Aberfeldy. The Thomson family hosted the VIP’s factfinding visit which was organised by NFU Scotland.

Klaus-Dieter Borchardt was on a mission to increase his knowledge of what is involved in the many and varied parts of Scottish farming today. He was accompanied on his trip by Andy Robertson, Chief Executive of NFU Scotland and Vice-president Stewart Wood.

The first day of his trip was spent on arable and dairy farms in Fife. The second day saw him arrive in Aberfeldy where he was keen to see what farming is like in a less favoured area like Highland Perthshire, and to explore whether businesses would survive without subsidies.

Subsidy Evaluation

Speaking about the visit Sandy Thomson of West Park Farm told Comment: “It is vitally important for the future of Scottish farming that we take every opportunity to engage with politicians.”

As well as giving Mr Borchardt a lunch of home-grown lamb and beef and other locally produced food, a presentation was made to him about the ‘Economic Footprint’ of the Thomson family business.

Sandy also took the opportunity to highlight other businesses on the farm, which in effect, subsidise food production.

He continued: “It is also encouraging to see that an organisation such as NFU Scotland can have the undivided attention of such a powerful politician on what was, in effect, a fact finding tour for deciding on levels of farm support after 2013, when the Common Agricultural Policy payments are supposed to come to an end.”