Joint team seeking farmers' views on CAP reform

This is an opportunity for farmers to raise their voices and shape CAP reform.

The James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) will reach out to farmers and crofters across the country to ask about their attitudes to the forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. The survey will gather valuable information that will help Government Ministers decide how future resources should be spent.

The team is conducting the research for the Scottish Government to help understand the responses of agricultural land managers to ongoing changes in the agricultural industry, for example, land and commodity prices, availability of agricultural labour, new technologies, regulations, levels of EU and other financial support.

Farmers will be contacted in a short telephone survey asking for their opinions and attitudes towards proposed CAP changes. The survey is voluntary and questions include how farmers and land managers would react to lower or higher payments than they currently receive, how they are preparing for any possible change, and how the ongoing uncertainty over the reform has affected their business.

This is an opportunity for farmers to raise their voices and shape CAP reform, letting the Scottish Government know how increased or decreased payments would change their future plans.

Farmers will be receiving ‘opt-out’ letters now asking them to participate in the short telephone survey which will begin in May. If you wish to participate in the survey then there is nothing you have to do. Any farmer who wishes not to take part in the survey should return the form in the envelope provided.