Mid Argyll farmers head to Holyrood to fight for survival

“All we are looking for is continuation of the support to secure the future of agriculture in Scotland, not just for farmers but for the land of which they are custodians and, likewise, for the villages and schools that depend on families like ours living and working here.”

Mr Dixon also told the Advertiser that the subsidies paid to farmers give the country substantial financial returns.

“For every £1 of government-funded direct payments the return of investment is calculated to be £6.

“Moreover, we are delivering the public good, subsidising households by keeping prices low. And we are the custodians of the land, the people who are looking after the rural landscape.”

When the Advertiser put Mr Dixon’s points to Argyll and Bute MSP Jenni Minto she explained that she had recently met with local agricultural representatives and had raised their worries at government level.

Ms Minto said: “I regularly meet with farmers and crofters from across Argyll and Bute to hear their concerns, most recently on November 8. As a result of that meeting, I have written to the cabinet secretary to raise these concerns.

“I am clear that family farms and crofts are integral to Argyll and Bute, as well as more widely across Scotland as part of our successful food and drink sector. 

“The Scottish government agriculture minister Jim Fairlie has called for impact assessments into the effect the UK Government budget will have on our farmers and crofters.”

Ms Minto went on to say that she was not in a position to predict what would be in the Scottish budget on December 4 but added: “I look forward to seeing some of Argyll and Bute’s farmers and crofters at the rally outside Parliament on Thursday.” 

The importance of the upcoming budget was emphasised by NFU Scotland director of policy Jonnie Hall who said: “The Scottish government now has full control over agricultural funding. 

“The upcoming Scottish budget on December 4 is a test of their commitment to Scotland’s rural future.

“Scottish farmers and crofters deserve a budget that recognises the indispensable role of farmers and crofters in Scotland’s rural and national prosperity.”

When asked by the Advertiser to respond to these concerns about the budget, rural affairs cabinet secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “The Scottish Government is unequivocal in our support for Scotland’s farmers and crofters.

“They play a vital role fuelling our rural communities and making possible our world-class food and drink sectors and the UK government budget will penalise them by failing to reverse the real terms cuts of previous years and failing to provide the multi-year certainty they require.”

The cabinet secretary then referred to Westminster’s recent policy change regarding farmers’ inheritance tax - another issue that is causing serious concern in Mid Argyll.

 “This uncertainty has been compounded by changes to agricultural property relief, which was imposed without any consultation with farmers or the Scottish government.

 “The Scottish parliament has called on the UK government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses and urgently commit to undertake impact assessments on the cumulative impact of its budget proposals on farmers and crofters in Scotland.”

Mr Dixon, who is a father of two very young boys, also expressed deep concerns about this family farm tax which prompted a farmer’s rally last week in London.

“I’m afraid to say that if this tax had been in place when my father sadly died in 2017 at the age of just 51, we would have lost the farm. There is just no way I could have afforded to pay that tax.”

Highlands and Islands MSP and shadow rural affairs secretary Tim Eagle echoed Mr Dixon’s concerns.

“Passing on the family farm is not just a matter of inheritance. It ensures the survival of food security, local jobs and protects the rural way of life,” he said. ““These changes to agricultural and business property relief will make it increasingly hard for farms to be passed onto future generations and threatens future food production.”