MSP CAMPAIGNS TO STOP HILL FARM DECLINE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Sep 2008

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland and Deputy Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, will today call on the Scottish Government to take urgent action to help Scottish hill farmers during a debate on the sharp decline in sheep and cattle numbers.

Liberal Democrats are calling for Less Favoured Area Support payments for 2008 to be issued before the end of October, without compromising the delivery of Single Farm Payments.

Jim Hume said:

"The vast majority of the South of Scotland is less favoured and have already seen dramatic changes in landscape as a result of stock being removed from the hills as has the rest of Scotland. Tavish Scott and I recently met with farmers in Stow near Galashiels and discussed the effects of the decline in detail. And there is corroboration from other sources unbiased respected sources.

"The Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Agricultural Colleges, the Crofting report and the NFUS's Manifesto for the Hills are categorical in their conclusions - which is that sheep and cattle numbers on Scottish hills are in decline. Since 1998 we have seen a 23-25% decline in the national sheep flock and nearly 11-12% reduction in the beef breeding herd. The trend is clear. And those stock reductions will also correlate with fewer people working in these communities.

"We need grazing on the hills - or we will not have any wild mountain thyme growing in our blooming heather. People are needed in these remote areas working - economically active - so that we can maintain and enhance the biodiversity that our Hills are famous for, a fact endorsed by all environmental and rural groups.

The MSP continued:

"If this government is serious about helping the fragile farming areas, then it will get the LFASS payments out by the end of October and this will have no effect on the Single Farm Payment going out in December."

ENDS