The Scottish Government

Class 5 -Agriculture

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting Scottish agriculture. Scottish agriculture accounts for 5 per cent of the rural workforce and contributes 1.3 per cent Gross Value Added to the Scottish economy. ('GVA' is the main indicator of economic performance used to measure the contribution made by individual sectors to the economy) In rural areas, where the industry is regarded as an integrated part of the rural economy, the contribution to economic, environmental and social benefits can be significantly higher.

The Scottish Government develops a wide variety of policies, regulation and services to support the Scottish agriculture industry. This includes implementing the Common Agriculture Policy, operating a number of grants, subsidies and services, and ensuring the good health and welfare of animals. It also takes measures to maintain Scotland's high plant health status, the excellent quality of its certified seed and seed potatoes and promotes the interests of the Scottish potato and horticulture sectors. Agriculture has an impact on the environment and the Government takes steps to ensure that environmental issues are properly integrated into agriculture.

A large amount of information is made available including information on policy, regulation and the services provided by the Scottish Government. This includes recent news, consultations, strategy documents, statistical information, reports, application forms for grants and guidance on a wide range of topics. The Scottish Agriculture Science Agency is being brought into the Scottish Government and the information they currently make available will be made available by the Scottish Government in future.

In particular, information on the following strategic areas is available:

• Agricultural Policy, which includes the agriculture strategy, information on livestock and livestock products; minimum rates of pay and other conditions for agricultural workers in Scotland; the food strategy and advice on food marketing grants; information on the Common Agricultural Policy reform; Land Management Contracts; the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2002; and on organic farming in Scotland.
• Animal Health and Welfare, which includes the long term strategy for improving animal health and welfare; animal health and welfare news; agriculture census results; contact information; animal welfare standards; guidance on the importation and exportation of animals including pets; information and guidance on disease control and specific animal diseases; and contingency plans for a disease outbreak.
• Plant Health, Seeds, and Potatoes, which includes advice and guidance on seeds certification and marketing regulations; advice and guidance on potatoes, including seed potatoes and export conditions; advice and information on maintenance of Scotland's high plant health status; and advice and guidance on the horticulture sectors.
• The Environment and Agriculture, which includes information on Agri-environment Schemes; Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) and guidance on the NVZ Grant Scheme; Environmental Impact Assessment regulations and Public Register; and the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity Code.
• Grants, Subsidies and Services, which includes a guide to, and list of all current grants, subsidies and services available to Scottish Agriculture, including agricultural subsidy payment information; information and advice to help farmers and producers grow and manage their businesses; and information on complaints procedure and information released under Freedom of Information.
• Statistics

High Level Summary of Statistics Trends -

This covers key indicators for the following sectors:

• Sustainable Farming
• Food and Drink Industry
• Fisheries
• Forestry

Within Rural Economics the statistical compendium Rural Scotland Key Facts is published on an annual basis via a hard copy distribution and web publication ( http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/02154950/6).

Statistical Publications -

This includes the following regular statistical publications:-

• Scotstat Agriculture Committee

Documentation from the Scotstat Agriculture Committee of external stakeholders is published on the Scotstat pages of the Scottish Government website:

Where the information within this class can be located

This class of information can be located within the ' Agriculture' section of the Scottish Government website or through one of the alternative routes described under section 5 of this scheme.