MP Michael Moore has pressed the case for hill farmers across the south of Scotland at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming.

Speaking after the cross-party gathering, Mr Moore emphasized the contribution made by hill farmers to the Borders economy and called for Members of Parliament from all parties to work together to secure the long-term economic viability of the industry in the UK.Michael Moore MP: Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk

Mr Moore has worked closely with representatives of NFUS and other groups in the past in support of the Borders hill farming industry. In 2009 he campaigned against EU efforts to make it mandatory for farmers in Scotland to electronically tag their sheep, meeting with officials in Brussels to argue that the new regulations were likely to prove expensive and unworkable and raising the issue with Ministers from the floor of the House of Commons.

Commenting after the meeting, Mr Moore said:

‘2009 was a challenging year for hill farmers in the south of Scotland, with the decision to proceed with the new electronic tagging rules adding to the already significant economic pressures facing the industry.

‘With CAP reform once again on the agenda in Brussels, 2010 is likely to be another critical year for the future of hill farming in the Borders. I will be working hard with my colleagues in the Scottish and European Parliaments to ensure that the views of our local farmers are represented aggressively throughout the negotiation process.’