David Michie

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenwick...

A shout out for SAOS and agricultural co-operatives in Scotland in parliament tonight.
I had no idea the co-op movement began in Fenwick in Ayrshire in the 1760s.

US-UK trade deal: what does it mean for co-ops? Reaction from the UK National Farmers Union and the US National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

What does the UK / US #tradedeal mean for #coops? Reaction from National Farmers Union and National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

Concerned that Reform are going to reap the political rewards of the impact of these changes on the elctorate

4. What is the impact of an unhealthier, more overweight, and older population on economic growth and public service provision? How much does poor diet contribute to this, and why are governments not addressing this issue, which is clearly social and not one of personal choice?

3. What is the future of food and farming in Scotland?
How should we produce food and manage land in a world of extreme weather, geopolitical instability, tariffs, and supply chain fragility? What if the USA controlled the Panama canal and encouraged autocrats around the world to act similarly?

2. Could the current UK constitution withstand a Musk-Trump-type onslaught?
Would our arrangement and conventions withstand extremely unconventional attacks?

1. Can the panellists predict when Reform will be electorally punished for their role (in current and previous incarnations) in Brexit?

Off to the BBC Scotland debate night tonight.
Where I will see
@jde22ix.bsky.social
@davedooganmp.bsky.social
@suewebbermsp.bsky.social
Wonder if I'll get to ask my questions about...

Rollback on diversity policies ‘risks undoing decades of progress’, says Co-op As Donald Trump reverses discrimination initiatives in the US, Co-op says it is holding firm on DEI having seen the benefits

'DEI was true to co-ops' founding principles and it would continue to champion fairness, having seen the benefits'
www.theguardian.com/business/202...

I spotted some dubious looking characters at the farmers' protest at the Holyrood parliament in November.
The far right have contributed to the difficulties farmers are facing, and are now seeking to politically capitalise on these difficulties.

Edinburgh: Topping and Company at the top of Letih walk and near a tram stop. Rare Birds and the Golden Hare in Stockbridge. And there are good selections of donated books in the various charity shops in Stockbridge.

images.app.goo.gl/a4tiWBKJNn6f...

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

I don’t think we quite realise the implications of this north of the border. A Holyrood election could bring change. As could the review of common frameworks and the Internal Market Act questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Are we sleep-walking towards significant change?
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The radical shift in English agricultural policy is driving change. Regen types like James are well placed to pick up support (pics are his silvo-arable field). The attitude of the co-op was pretty bullish. But this change is radical, and Scottish and English ag policy has diverged significantly
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Had a pretty eye-opening few days in E Anglia this week, when visiting a farmer-owned co-operative.
Squeezed in a walk round James Bucher’s farm in Suffolk. He has fully embraced regen. And is seeing results on his very light soil that had little livestock and a lot of ploughing for a long time.
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Agribusiness News February 2025 - Inputs: The Benefits of Co-operating with Co-operatives | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service The role of Co-operatives in supporting agribusiness in Scotland Co-operation is the quiet engine room of Scottish farming.  Collectively, producer co-ops

Farmers can benefit from co-operating.
My article in Agribusiness news explaining what co-ops are, and the benefits they can bring to producers, the supply chain, and policymakers.
www.fas.scot/article/agri...

Scary data for England's watercourses. I am involved in a water resource management project with a group of potato growers in Scotland. Looking at future investments and practices for more water scarce future.
saos.coop/whats-new/ne...

No!

Thanks!
My dad also told us they got presents on new years rather than Christmas day, and that new years day was really the only day where very little work was done on the farm (other than feeding animals).

I grew up on a farm in Aberdeenshire, and thought we participated in a lot of Scottish traditions. But I had never heard of steak pie for new years day!
Seems like more of an urban, central belt tradition? We always had a roast with family.

Stray Cat Blues, Rolling Stones.
Tune 😃
Lyrics 😬

The first financial scandal/crisis to defeat all attempts at satire. There's nothing to say

Long Running Union Campaign Finally Secures Deal on £160 Million for Scottish Farmers and Crofters

References
www.gov.uk/government/n...
And
www.nfus.org.uk/news/news/lo...
I hate to give Johnson any sort of credit - it is painful! But this did actually happen.

Domestic farm support funding (Bew Review): government response Government response to the independent review on making sure funding for domestic farm support is fairly allocated (also known as the Bew Review).

Convergence funding was returned following Bew review www.gov.uk/government/p...
But 'Bew' funding was reallocated by ScotGov. And is still being lobbied for in the run up to the budget. This movement of funds to address other political priorities is new & a bit of a shock to farmers used to the CAP

Not in Scotland - this sense of unfairness has been a huge political asset to the SNP

What is even worse was seeing the far right, conspiracy theorist No Farmers No Food bunch at a recent rally at Scottish Parliament. They clearly weren't farmers. I'm sure they are Brexit-y. I think they are trying to radicalise farmers when the problems are low returns from the market & Brexit.
4/4

It was particularly frustrating when I was involved in political advocacy, and English counterparts would frame policy asks in a way that didn't point out the failings of Brexit. Participating by default in the Big Lie that has so damaged the sector.
3/

It was so obvious to people like me, who had been working in the sector for decades. But there was very little debate throughout the Brexit process (which continues to unravel) - campaign, parliamentary debate, negotiation, implementation - and our remainer voices were not listened to.
2/

Johnson did cimmit to maintain the budget in England & Scotland for the duration of the parliament.
But.
England radically rapidly changed it's agri policy capreform.eu/agricultural...
And it was *inevitable* that once outside the CAP there would be no ringfenced multi-annual financial framework
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There was a small fringe of the 'No Farmers No Food' contingent. They didn't look like farmers. And their fliers had some pretty bonkers conspiracy theories.
Their presence won't do Scottish farmers any favours. They are also a bit Brexit-y. Which precipitated this problem in the first place
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