NFUS Autumn Conference 2026: Rural Affairs Secretary - 29 October 2026

Thank you Andrew, it’s great to be here and of course this is my first time here as Cabinet Secretary responsible for Rural Affairs, addressing this annual conference.

For well over a century, the NFUS has been the backbone of Scottish agriculture supporting farmers through many challenges – wars, drought, diseases, economic hardship and the many changes that have reshaped our countryside.

This year’s autumn conference is particularly meaningful for me, obviously taking on the responsibility for Rural Affairs.

Since my appointment I have prioritised going out on farm visits to hear how those businesses are planning their long term futures. 

One of them that remains in my mind particularly was to Neidpath Farms in Peebles, where I met Matt Griffin, their farm manager, who is leading a transition towards regenerative and nature friendly farming practices, using innovative approaches to sustainable upland farming that critically also, and he’s proving, improves the bottom line.

As some of you will know, I represent a rural constituency, a constituency your President farms in.  I have visited many farms, and had many personal connections with farm businesses in my constituency over the years, not just as an MSP, but growing up there.

What I’ve seen on those visits that I’ve undertaken over those 10 years in a rural constituency has only deepened my respect for those of you who farm in Scotland.

I fully acknowledge and support Scottish agriculture as a sector that employs thousands of people, sustains rural and remote communities, and contributes billions to our economy, as well as playing a critical role in our nation’s food security.

The theme today is – Building the resilience of Scottish Agriculture to drive farm profitability – and it couldn’t be more timely. It hits at the heart of the challenge that faces us today and will be key to achieving the multiple ambitions we all have for Scotland moving forward.

Farm businesses must be more resilient in the face of unprecedented and unpredictable challenges hitting the sector.

Without building more resilience into Scottish agriculture we cannot hope to drive farm profitability. The two – profitability and resilience – are absolutely linked.

The challenges we face, as a nation, an industry, and as individual businesses, are absolutely real, and they are immediate.  Meeting those challenges is essential to continue to produce food for our nation and sustain our rural economy.

And let me be clear the challenges you are facing are considerable. Increasing geopolitical tensions are leading to more volatile markets increasing the costs to your businesses – fuel, feed and fertiliser being chief amongst them.

New biosecurity threats are emerging that do not respect borders.

Climate change is not a distant threat. It’s happening now, and impacting on you, I’d say, most of all. Droughts, floods, and extreme weather events are already disrupting your harvests, supply chains, and most certainly driving up your overheads.

Add to that an unhelpful UK Government who sadly, I don’t believe, value or understand agriculture, and hits you with a “family farm tax” that damages the sector’s long term future, and in the immediate term, I’m in no doubt, puts considerable stress and anxiety on you and your families.

What is really impressive though is that through it all, your resilience stands out. But it also seems to me that that resilience can be taken for granted by some.

I can assure you, we do not take that for granted. This government understands your challenges.

Farming is tough – it’s not just a job, it’s a life, and an identity often passed down through generations. And your identity and your sector is one of the defining ones of Scotland.  

We are committed to continue supporting you as an industry, as an integral part of Scotland. The last budget invested over £660 million in transforming farming and food production.  

We have maintained direct payments to Scotland’s farmers, crofters and land managers at a higher level than anywhere else in the UK.

I know you are frustrated at the impact of inflation on that support.  We share that frustration.  

Our block grant has not been adjusted to reflect inflation.  The truth is that the UK Government funding Scotland receives is falling in real terms, at a time when demand for our public services is increasing.

And yesterday didn’t give us any hope of an improvement in that area at all. We’re effectively looking at a real terms cut.

Where we have the powers to protect and support the agricultural industry, we fully intend to do so. And in stark contrast to policies elsewhere, we want to do everything we can with the powers we have to provide you with the stability and certainty you need to plan for the future.

The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme demonstrates that commitment, awarding more than £350 million to over 3,400 businesses since 2015, including £25.6 million in 2026 to support land management that delivers for Scotland’s climate and nature goals through improvements to biodiversity, water quality, flood management and climate resilience.

I am therefore pleased to confirm that a further round of AECS will open in early 2027, with further details to be announced  very soon. 

We also recognise the significant benefits that can be achieved through landscape-scale collaboration. When farmers and land managers work together across a wider landscape, they can deliver more joined-up and impactful outcomes for nature and climate.

We are therefore exploring how best to support this approach, including the role of facilitation, and are working closely with stakeholders, farmers and crofters to design a model that works in practice, with the ambition of launching a short-life pilot next year.

I recognise that one sector that has been facing significant issues in recent months has been Scottish pig producers, and I want to acknowledge the role of NFUS in standing up for farmers through these difficult times.

Following engagement with Andrew, Jamie Wyllie and others, I launched the £2 million Scottish Pig Producers Support Scheme in July this year. I know that the sector continues to face issues and we are talking to industry, including the NFUS, on how we can all work together to support pork production further in myriad ways.

In 2025 we introduced calving interval conditionality for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme and we improved the targeting of this support further by introducing a ‘small herd derogation’ in 2026 in line with the Vision for Agriculture. 

Recent analysis undertaken by SRUC on behalf of the Scottish Government has shown that the reform in 2025 resulted in the scheme targeting suckler cows with lower excess emissions while continuing to invest in a productive beef sector.

I am therefore pleased to confirm that the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme will continue to 2029. 

To build on the success of this reform, I want to also announce our intention, subject to legislation, to strengthen the targeting of support by reducing the calving interval threshold to 400 days for 2028 and 2029.

Unlike our counterparts south of the border, we will not be removing direct subsidies for farmers. The impact of their decision is there for all to see and we will not be following them.

What we are doing is coursing a path that will, over time, build and deliver a more resilient and profitable Scottish agricultural sector. Some would like us to go faster, but I want to get it absolutely right, and continue to work with you all on how we do that, but also giving you lead in times as we know you need to prepare for incoming changes.

We are laser focussed on the Rural Support Plan for 2030. The Plan sets the expectation of what agriculture support will look like in 2030. We are clear that support moving forward will only be received by active farmers.

And by active farmers I consider that to be farmers who produce good quality food sustainably, working in a way that is good for nature and the environment and supports their local communities.

It is through this lens of active production that more will be done to integrate and enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, restore nature, increase tree planting, deliver sustainable good quality food production and reduce emissions. By doing this we will build resilience, drive profitability, and ensure our farming land is heathy for future generations. 

The second round of the Future Farming Investment Scheme will support this approach, helping you invest in your business.  Guidance is available now, and the date applications can be submitted will be announced in the coming weeks.

In the period through to 2030, the government is delivering three key things:

• certainty - in that our payment structures will remain familiar to you;
• investment - in that we will retain direct payments to applicants; and,
• preparation – in that we will work with you and support you to be ready for change beyond 2030.

But let me be clear, this is the starting point. Not the final destination. Reform is underway and reform will continue to evolve following a continuous improvement approach designed and delivered in partnership with you.

For many of you this journey is already underway. From the introduction of the Whole Farm Plan and modest enhanced greening requirements to the calving interval for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme – changes are happening now designed to deliver for the environment and productivity.

In the coming months and years, you will notice a real step change in the speed of future policy development. I have instructed my officials to deliver at pace. This parliamentary session is entirely about delivery of reform.

From 2030 that will include:

• support mechanisms being tailored to allow delivery of sustainable and regenerative practices;
• there will be revised eligibility and activity requirements, that will include the emergence of ‘essential standards’ for base payments and ‘packages of measures’ designed to incentivise reaching enhanced standards;
• targeted measures will be set for elective activities, alongside support to work collaboratively across whole landscapes;
• and the appropriate learning activities will be enabled through the Complimentary Tier.

This will deliver a cohesive, coherent and unique journey through the future four-tiered framework for each applicant in the context of their own circumstances.

What does this mean in practice?

Well personally, I’ve long felt that farmers don’t get the recognition by the support system for the multifaceted work they do. There is a phrase we often use about farmers being “custodians of land”. But is that adequately recognised? I’d say not.

Yield and area is not an adequate measurement of value in itself. It is high time the efforts in soil and water health, nature and habitat creation, and preservation and sequestration of greenhouse gases by farms was recognised. And the same goes for the impact you have in your communities, including the employment and fair work opportunities for local people.

The Rural Support Plan notes the introduction of Essential Standards for Tier One Base support come 2030. This means a refreshed and re-presented fusion of Cross Compliance, Whole Farm Plan baselines, and Fair Work requirements.

For you, you will see a coherent set of standards across the whole framework. This will enable a foundational step for you to make that journey through the tiered support.

Should you choose to enter the Enhanced Tier, we will not be asking you to grapple with multiple schemes with long lists of options attached to them. Frankly, who has the time? We want to make it as efficient as possible.

Instead, we will present you with packages of agricultural practices that underpin sustainable and regenerative activity and align with the ARC Act objectives and the ARP outcomes.

The themes of these packages – whether supporting soil health, on farm wildlife, or issues linked to water scarcity and flooding – will be across every tier.

Packages will clearly spell out what we as government want farmers and crofters to undertake on their holding to release payment through the framework. When put together, they will provide clear pathways or journeys which farmers and crofters can follow.

It is your choice whether you engage with the framework and to what extent. But should you do so, we will support you, as we believe it will help build resilience and help you drive profitability in your business.

I want to assure you though, that these journeys will be sufficiently broad to ensure that there will be something that every farm can undertake; and specific enough for you to understand what is intended to receive public money to support your efforts.

Tier 3 Elective activities will be there for those of you that wish to go further on supporting climate and nature within your farm system, helping to further increase resilience. Tier 4 is there to help you learn, share knowledge, and develop skills to ensure you are equipped for the future. As part of the development of that Tier, there is currently a consultation on the Scottish Government website on Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

It is important that you provide your views to shape the policy. I ask you to take a look at it and provide your comments before 14 December so that my decisions and that of my Minister can be well informed by you.

You understand your farm better than government ever will. You will know how best to build resilience and profitability in your farm, and we want this framework to work for you and give you the tools to deliver.

I also want to say a few words on the health and wellbeing of farmers. We are determined to continue assisting programmes which provide support such as RSABI and Farmstrong.

RSABI continue to provide vital emotional, practical, and financial assistance to those across Scottish agriculture who face so many challenges in the current climate.  This Financial year, we are providing RSABI with up to £85,000 of grant funding. 

Part of this funding is going towards the new Scottish Firearms Mental Health Awareness and Support Partnership. Being more open to helping people manage their health and guns safely during difficult times is at the heart of this Partnership.

RSABI and Police Scotland are leading this work together so we can break down the barriers, whether real or perceived,  and get people in Scotland’s firearms, farming and rural communities access to support to help them, and reduce the fear of reaching out for support, fearing there is a risk to their firearms licence if they do so.

I hope that all the NFUS staff, regional chairs, committee members and presidential team engage with the partnership so everyone in this room and beyond can use the new tools being developed to support people and their families to have those conversations and reduce that stigma and fear associated with that.

I want to thank you all once again for having me here and opening your farms up to me, Minister Jim Fairlie and my officials to come and speak to you. Those conversations are absolutely play into the decisions that we make in the parliament and St Andrews House.

We cant do our work effectively without listening to you and having conversations – and sometimes they are challenging, sometimes they are difficult – but they are absolutely essential.

And I want to reiterate my recognition that, through all of the current challenges, the industry has shown remarkable determination and resilience.  You are out there producing world class, nutritious products to put on the shelves in supermarkets and on tables in our homes.

And of course, you’ll know that we want to be opening up markets where we can for your produce. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to discuss our plans associated with public sector procurement, because we’ve been talking about it for far too long.

In the course of this parliament we want to deliver on that and make sure that our hospitals, our schools, our prisons, that what goes into those public sector establishments is food from our local producers.

A final message. If you are not already engaged with the changes happening and coming down the road in 2030, please become engaged. Speak to your neighbours, go on the Farm Advisory Service, reach out to the Union who will be able to give you information.

If we are to build resilience and drive profitability we need everyone engaged and pulling in the same direction. If we can do that, we won’t just meet and overcome the challenges ahead, we’ll have an even more thriving sector in the decades to come.

Thank you very much.