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From The Wellies - March 06

The National Farmer’s Union of Scotland held its AGM at the St Andrews Bay Hotel on the 2/3 March.  The main dinner was called ‘A Taste of the Northern Isles’ with the menu highlighting the food and drink available from the Orkney and Shetland areas of NFU Scotland. 

One of Scotland’s finest chefs, Paul Doull of the Fovera Hotel, compiled the menu.  The Orkney Fudge cheesecake with Orkney Fudge Ice-cream was the highlight course for me and could do serious damage to your waistline if eaten too often.  Every other course from the seafood starter, the fillet steak main course, through to the cheeseboard, was delicious and a tribute to the high standard of food and drink produced on the islands.

The main NFU business of the AGM was the vice-presidential elections – 3 candidates vied for the 2 places available.  Bob Howat, who farms in the Borders and has a tenanted farm in Fife, retained his vice-president’s job which he has had for the last 3 years.  The other successful candidate was Jim McLaren who farms 1000 acres over 4 units in Perthshire.  As well as his farming interests, he also runs the Perthshire Auction Rooms in Crieff.  NFU President John Kinnaird is half way through his second 2year term as president so next year’s elections will be for president and 2 vice-presidents.

Minister's Address  

Ross Finnie, Rural Development Minister addressed the meeting on a number of topics.  The Beef Export Ban which resulted from the BSE outbreaks in 1996 has seen us excluded from valuable European markets for 10 years – hopefully by the time you read this, Brussels will have lifted the ban which should see exports resume by early April.  All conditions of tagging, traceability and testing have been met but, as Mr Finnie stated, ‘politics’ could still play a part and throw a last minute spanner in the works.

Food labelling has also been a hotly debated topic lately.  At present, raw meat sold at retail outlets carries country of origin information, but no such information is given in catering establishments unless on a voluntary basis.  Mr Finnie informed the meeting of the Scottish Executive’s consultation on this proposal.  The full details of the consultation can be viewed on the SEERAD website www.scotland.gov.uk/views/asp  

France has already introduced a requirement to indicate country of origin of beef in the food service sector.  At the end of his address, Mr Finnie took questions from the floor.  These ranged from the effect that large supermarkets have on the food supply chain, to requests for more support to kick start the bio fuels industry.

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A final reminder to all smokers about the impending smoking ban on the 26 March.  Tractor cabs don’t escape the ban so expect to see environmental health officers patrolling fields looking for offenders.  Delegates at the NFU conference from the Northern Isles can’t wait to see the authorities try to enforce the ban which also extends to boats, no lighting up a cigarette unless you are more than 10 miles from shore!

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