25 August 2008, Machrie Hotel, Islay, 13..00
Present
Angus McFadyen (Chair),Fergus Younger (Agricultural Strategy Manager); Lucy Sumsion (FWAG), Councillor Rory Colville (ABC), Rae McKenzie (RSPB - Islay), David Kerr (ABC), Alan Minshaw (SAC), Graeme Pirie (SGRPID), Richard Holborn (SGRPID), Gill Johnstone (NFU Islay,Jura and Colonsay), Samuel Kyeremeh (SEPA) Caroline Ronald (Scottish Crofting Foundation) Catriona Bell (former Forum Member), Heather Anderson (Minute Secretary ABC), Craig Archibald (Farmer – not present at start of meeting)
Aplogies
Keith Miller (FC Scotland), Lisa Webb (NFU), Michaela Clelland (SEPA), Julia McPherson (SEPA) , Audrey Martin (ABC), Jamie Mellor (NFU) Brian and Janet Hill, Catherine Ralston, Councillor Robert McIntyre (ABC), Robert Miller, Morna Paterson
Welcome
Angus welcomed everyone to the meeting particularly those attending for the first time and did a round of table introduction. Sederunt was taken and apologies (see above) recorded.
Minutes From Last Meeting
Unanimously Approved.
Meeting Minutes
MATTERS ARISING
Minutes of last meeting had been typed in different format. In future all Minutes to be in standard format showing action/timescales highlighted.
ARGYLL AREA AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATE – Fergus Younger
Fergus gave the Forum an update on the main projects he is working on using a power point presentation:-
Food from Argyll
Fergus advised that this had taken up most of his time recently and gave an update of the progress in trying to foster an Argyll identity in conjunction with ten Argyll food producers.
Initial funding (from AIE, ABC and Leader) for attending 4 events but had attended 6.
5 of the 6 events had proved to be very successful for the participants with quality food being viewed as something new at the festivals.
Fergus acting as facilitator/co-ordinator for ground of producers, but also working on utilising events to build a strong brand from Argyll.
3 year funding is now being sought in order to build on this success, take the project forward and use it as a pilot in promoting Argyll and Bute. Funding would allow for appointment of a facilitator/co-ordinator.
At local level Fergus working with Argyll Country markets, Lorn group and in discussion with Oban and Lorn Tourism Association who are trying to establish a food event in Oban.
Food into Schools – the Pilot local produce project in Bute has started with two part-time workers being employed – this main focus is on horticultural produce.
A feasibility study in Kintyre has also begun looking and horticulture and supply chain for red meat.
Bute Biogas Project
The original project using cattle slurry from across the island is on the balance of being economically feasible due to changing economics and the focus is now on farms in the Ettrick Bay catchment and the pollution angle.
Lamb Supply Chain
Fergus advised that there were currently relevant reports by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (The Future of Scotland’s Hills and Islands); by S.A.C.
(Retreat from the Hills); by N.F.U. (Manifesto for the Hills) and Beyond the Cap by Environment Link. These highlight current trends in hill farming and make recommendations for the future.
Fergus is investigating the possibility of bringing together a group of local hill farmers with a view to building a local action plan with 6 – 8 key actions that can be tackled at Argyll level and then attempting to secure funding for these actions.
Angus McFadyen advised of a project that he personally is involved in along with a group of farmers from Argyll to take 250 lambs through the process from purchase to slaughterhouse in order to obtain a baseline cost to work from. It has still to be ascertained whether these lambs will be put to pasture in Argyll or out with the area.
Euro Montana
Argyll and Bute Council are part of this group looking at the mountain areas of Europe and how to sustain their agricultural communities. Fergus to explore linkage.
Working Farm Woodlands
£5,000 funding secured from Forestry Commission Scotland, Leader, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Project proposal for 3 feasibilities
Looking at supply chain but economic benefits are questionable.
Still to Progress
Food and Drink Stakeholder Meeting
Next Generation – Rural skills in Argyll.
Involvement with Other Groups
Argyll and Bute Water Management Group
Food and Health Group
Leader Local Action Group
The Forum thanked Fergus for his hard work and long hours, particularly in moving forward the Argyll identity.
Alan Minshaw advised that it was hoped that SAC would shortly appoint an admin/project support worker in the Campbeltown office.
CRAIG ARCHIBALD JOINED THE MEETING
Chair thanked Fergus for his presentation and invited questions from the Forum:-
In response to a question from Rory Colville Fergus advised that he is in contact with the marketing group in Bute and that he has been looking at the possibility of a pilot scheme with a supplier in Oban to get local food into local hotels.
HILL SHEEP SRPD AND FARM FORESTRY
Rory Colville suggested that there may be a value in discussing with Argyll and Bute Council’s Head of Facilitity Services and Operations Manager regarding catering in Council owned halls.
Chair welcomed Craig Archibald to the meeting, and suggested that item 6 on the Agenda be taken next.
Angus referred to a newspaper article that morning regarding the decline in the breeding stock and the Forum discussed the seriousness of the situation.
Angus then invited the representatives from the SGRPID to update the Forum on the uptake of the Programme:-
268 statements of intent dealt with by Oban Office so far.
Not a great update by Farmers so far but it was felt that this was due to the time of year, however these applications needed to be submitted as a matter or some urgency in order to be processed within the timescale.
Angus McFadyen asked if there had been any anomalies with the programme and the mechanism for dealing with these.
SRDP will be reviewed in June 2009 and anomalies hopefully will be dealt with as part of this process in refining regional priorities.
The Forum discussed the possibility of co-ordinating an Argyll response for June 2009. It was agreed to discuss this further with Ross Lilley, Bill Dundas and Ewan MacPherson.
The Forum discussed the SRDP,the forthcoming Land Use Summit and the role the Forum should/could play with regard to this and in regard to the four reports previously discussed.
Forum should arrange a meeting with stakeholders to discuss actioning of the recommendations from all 4 reports. Fergus and Lucy Sumsion to compile summary. As a matter of urgency, a letter should be composed, to be signed by Angus McFadyen as Chair of the Forum, to Richard Lochhead and Scottish Government Ministers asking what their proposals are for implementing the recommendations. This letter to be copied to Jim Mather MSP.
GOOSE SCHEMES
Jill Johnstone advised the Forum:-
that there are currently three goose schemes: Islay, Kintyre and Tiree and Coll.
The schemes had been set up with a five year management plan, with a financial review in the third year which is this year.
Funding should have been agreed with SNH but this has been delayed due to a large budget cut to the National Goose Group,. Discussions regarding funding are on- going between SNH and Scottish Government.
The Forum stressed,the importance of these Schemes and noted that all three schemes had had a 100% uptake.
A.O.C.B.
The Forum stressed,the importance of these Schemes and noted that all three schemes had had a 100% uptake.
Rory Colville asked the Forum for their views on a possible way forward on a situation that he was involved in locally where a local farmer had carried out works on his land to stop river erosion.
After discussion it was agreed that this could possibly attract funding under the SRDP as joint project with stakeholders such as SEPA, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish and Southern. It was agreed that possibly FWAG or SAC could be involved but that in the first instance an approach by made to Argyll Fisheries Trust to see if they would be prepared to take the lead in co-ordinating this.
The Forum will be kept informed of the actions from this meeting prior to the next meeting.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
13 November in Campbeltown. Time and Venue to be confirmed.
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