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National Farmers' Union of Scotland

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National Farmers' Union of Scotland
AbbreviationNFUS
Founded1913; 111 years ago (1913)
TypeEmployer association
HeadquartersRural Centre - West Mains, Ingliston, Midlothian, Scotland, EH28 8LT
Location
President
Martin Kennedy
Vice-Presidents
Andrew Connon &
Alasdair Macnab
Treasurer
Rupert Shaw
Main organ
NFUS National Council
AffiliationsNFU Mutual Insurance
Sister organisations:
Websitehttp://www.nfus.org.uk/

The National Farmers' Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland, NFUS) is an employer association organisation that represents the interests of the Scotland's farming industry. It was formed in 1913, and has approximately 10,000 members who are farmers, crofters and others involved in Scottish agriculture.

It is organisationally independent of the larger and similarly named National Farmers' Union (NFU) in England and Wales.[1]

History

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In 1972, the NFUS — alongside other employers' associations National Farmers' Union of England and Wales and the Ulster Farmers' Union — set up the 'British Agriculture Bureau' to represent their interests in the European Economic Community affairs, and later in European Union affairs.[2][3]

In the late 2000's, proposals were made to reform the EU Common Agricultural Policy by altering the direct paymenth system.[4][5] NFU Scotland declared their opposition to the reform package with NFUS policy director Scott Walker stating it would have a disproportionate negative impact on big farms.[5]

During the Scottish Independence Referendum, the NFUS did not officially endorce either independence or union.[6] Former NFUS presidents Ian Grant, Jim Stobo, Sandy Inverarity, Sylvester Campbell, George Lyon and Sandy Mole supported voting for Scotland staying in the UK. Former presidents John Ross, John Cameron, Jim Walker and John Kinnaird supported voting for Scottish independence.[6]

In February 2015, Allan Bowie was elected president of NFU Scotland, succeeding Nigel Miller who had held the role since 2011.[7][third-party source needed]

Following a review of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) in Decembers 2015, MSP Richard Lochhead, the Rural Affairs Secretary, announced that the SAWB would be retained to protect farmworkers.[8][9] NFU Scotland—which has and continues to campaign against the SAWB—criticised the decision, with NFUS chief executive Scott Walker describing the board as redundant.[9]

In February 2017, Andrew McCornick successfully challenged incumbent Allan Bowie, and became president of NFU Scotland.[10][11]

Martin Kennedy was elected unopposed as NFUS president in February 2021.[12] In February 2023 he was re-elected without a challenger.[12]

Structure and function

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According to the NFUS' constitution, the president is elected by the NFUS National Council for a term of two years, and no individual may be president for more than two consecutive terms.[13] All though the executive body of the organisation, it is unclear how many people sit on the NFUS National Council, with the constitution only stating that the president, vice-presidents, and the members of NFUS' regional boards.[13]

Along with the NFU, the Ulster Farmers' Union, and other farming and food organisations, NFUS owns the Assured Food Standards company, which administers the Red Tractor food quality mark.[14][15]

NFU Scotland selects a three of the six employers' representatives on the seventeen member Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.[16]

British Agriculture Bureau

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The British Agriculture Bureau (BAB) is the joint office of the NFU, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers' Union in Brussels. The BAB lobbies for the British farming industry in regards to European Union policy.[2][3][17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Harrison, Rob; Berry, Hannah; Strange, Ruth (2016). "Understanding the NFU - an English Agribusiness Lobby-group" (PDF). www.ethicalconsumer.org. Ethical Consumer Research Association. p. 4.
  2. ^ a b Harrison, Berry & Strange 2016, p. 101.
  3. ^ a b "About us". www.britishagriculturebureau.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Proposal for a Council Regulation determining measures on fixing certain aids and refunds related to the common organisation of the markets in agricultural products" (PDF). European Commission. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b Stocks, Caroline (11 August 2011). "Leaked plans signal direct payment capping". Farmers Weekly. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Scottish independence: Former farmers' union leaders split on referendum". BBC News. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Allan Bowie Elected 61st President of NFU Scotland". www.nfus.org.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Protecting the rights of low paid workers". account.ruralpayments.org. Scottish Government. 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Scottish Agricultural Wages Board to be retained". The Herald. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Three candidates for NFU Scotland president role". BBC News. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Lochfoot farmer Andrew McCornick elected NFU Scotland president". BBC News. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  12. ^ a b Ross, Alec (13 February 2023). "Kennedy elected unchallenged for new term as NFU Scotland president". The Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Articles of Association of NFU Scotland" (PDF). www.nfus.org.uk. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  14. ^ Harrison, Berry & Strange 2016, p. 73.
  15. ^ "Who We Are: The Red Tractor Team". Red Tractor Assurance. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Scottish Agricultural Wages Board". Scottish Government. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Celebrating 50 Years of The British Agriculture Bureau". www.nfus.org.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
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