How Brexit Has Affected Farmers in Ochil and South Perthshire
Brexit has changed the commercial, regulatory and labour environment for farms across Ochil and South Perthshire. The effects vary by enterprise: an arable business near Kinross may face different pressures from a hill farm in the Ochils, while soft-fruit growers and livestock producers have their own exposure to seasonal workers, transport costs and export rules.
Farmers were promised that leaving the European Union would allow the United Kingdom to design a simpler and more generous agricultural policy. In practice, the transition away from the Common Agricultural Policy has brought uncertainty, new paperwork and questions about whether replacement support will match the needs of Scottish agriculture.
For local producers, this is a practical issue rather than an abstract constitutional debate. It concerns the viability of family farms, the future of rural jobs, food security and the strength of communities throughout the constituency.
Changing Farm Payments And Rural Investment
Under the CAP, many farms received direct payments linked to agricultural land. Brexit allowed the UK and Scottish governments to replace that system, but the shift has been gradual. Farmers have had to plan through changing schemes while dealing with inflation in fuel, fertiliser, machinery and feed.
Scotland’s agricultural support reforms increasingly emphasise sustainable farming, climate action and outcomes such as biodiversity. Those goals can benefit the countryside, yet payments must remain accessible to working farms with limited administrative capacity. Smaller holdings may struggle when applications demand detailed records, mapping and evidence of compliance.
The central concern is cash flow. A farm can support environmental improvements over several years, but bills arrive immediately. Payment delays or unclear eligibility rules can make it harder to invest in drainage, livestock housing, fencing, renewable energy and efficient machinery.
Trade Barriers For Scottish Produce
Leaving the single market introduced customs declarations, certification and border procedures for goods moving between Great Britain and the European Union. Meat, dairy, seed, grain and processed food businesses can all be affected by additional checks, even when the farm itself does not export directly.
A producer may sell through a processor, auction market or wholesaler, meaning the cost of new administration is distributed throughout the supply chain. Delays can be particularly damaging for perishable products. Fresh produce and chilled goods depend on predictable delivery windows, and extra paperwork can reduce their competitiveness against European suppliers.
The UK-EU trading relationship also creates uncertainty around future standards and market access. Maintaining close alignment with European rules would reduce friction for many Scottish businesses, while divergence could create new opportunities in some areas but add another layer of compliance for exporters.
Seasonal Labour And Rising Costs
Horticulture in and around Perthshire relies heavily on seasonal labour for planting, picking and packing. Changes to immigration rules after Brexit reduced access to the wider European workforce and placed greater responsibility on employers to recruit through approved routes. Farms must now plan earlier and absorb more recruitment, accommodation and compliance costs.
Labour shortages can leave crops unharvested or push businesses towards automation before the necessary technology is affordable. A grower facing higher wages, transport charges, packaging prices and energy bills may have little room to absorb further costs without reducing production or raising prices.
Livestock farms have felt pressure through feed, veterinary supplies, machinery parts and fuel. Some imported inputs now take longer to arrive or cost more because of customs processes and currency movements. These pressures affect the whole rural economy, including hauliers, agricultural merchants, contractors and local food businesses.
Different Pressures Across The Constituency
Ochil and South Perthshire contains a varied agricultural landscape. Arable farms need reliable access to seed, fertiliser and machinery, while livestock producers depend on efficient movements to markets, abattoirs and breeding operations. Hill and upland farms often have fewer alternatives to livestock and require support that recognises their environmental and geographic constraints.
| Area of pressure | Likely effect on local farms | What would help |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural support | Uncertain income during scheme changes | Clear multi-year payments and simple applications |
| Export administration | More paperwork, delays and added costs | Lower-friction UK-EU trade arrangements |
| Seasonal labour | Recruitment difficulties and higher employment costs | Reliable worker routes and better rural housing |
| Imported inputs | Higher prices for feed, fuel and machinery | Stronger supply-chain planning and fair competition |
| Environmental requirements | Investment demands before benefits arrive | Upfront grants and practical advice |
A resilient rural policy should avoid treating every holding as identical. Support for a lowland cereal farm should not be designed in the same way as assistance for a hill farm or a labour-intensive fruit enterprise. Local knowledge matters, especially when policies affect land management, water quality and rural employment.
A Stronger Voice For Scottish Agriculture
Farmers need representation that connects Westminster decisions with Scotland’s distinct agricultural needs. Immigration, trade, food labelling and many economic levers remain shaped by UK-wide policy, while agricultural support is administered within Scotland. That division can make accountability difficult when problems cross institutional boundaries.
Annabelle Ewing’s campaign places Scottish representation and economic recovery at the centre of its political message. Farmers and rural residents can review the campaign platform alongside information about local campaigning and parliamentary priorities. A visible constituency voice can press for better rural connectivity, fair procurement and investment in agricultural innovation.
Independence is also part of the wider argument presented by the SNP. Supporters believe Scotland could design agricultural, migration and trade policies more closely around its own economy. Whatever their constitutional view, many farmers want immediate action on payment certainty, market access and the cost of doing business.
Priorities For Farm Recovery
A credible response should focus on practical measures that give producers confidence over several seasons. It should protect food production while rewarding improvements in soil, water, animal welfare and biodiversity.
Key priorities include:
- Guaranteeing stable, transparent agricultural support with timely payments
- Seeking reduced trade friction and improved access to European markets
- Maintaining dependable seasonal-worker routes for horticulture and related businesses
- Funding rural roads, broadband, energy efficiency and farm diversification
- Providing simple advice so smaller farms can meet environmental and export requirements
These measures would support both commercial resilience and the wider public value of farming. They would also help ensure that environmental policy strengthens rural communities instead of placing an unmanageable burden on them.
Farmers in Ochil and South Perthshire deserve a policy framework that recognises Brexit’s real costs while giving them room to adapt. Annabelle Ewing’s campaign offers a channel for raising those concerns in the wider debate about Scotland’s economic future. Residents can follow the campaign, share local priorities and support stronger representation for agriculture at Westminster.