FIRST Minister Humza Yousaf is to address delegates attending Scotland's National Farmers Union's (NFUS) annual conference.
The First Minister’s speech will be delivered at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Friday, February 9.
The two-day event starts on Thursday, February 8.
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon MSP will join the First Minister for a question-and-answer session after his speech.
READ MORE: Independent advice must be taken on Agriculture Bill, say campaigners
The last time a first minister addressed the annual event was in February 2017, when Nicola Sturgeon attended.
It comes as the Scottish Government hopes to redesign the system of payments to farmers and crofters in Scotland with its Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill.
At a recent event, former MEP and current SNP councillor Heather Anderson, an organic farmer for 22 years, shared that she hoped the Scottish Government would be “bold” in its published details on future farm support measures.
And previously, more than 40 different environmental organisations called on ministers to be required to take independent advice before setting out their five year rural support plan.
READ MORE: NFU Scotland chief will not call on farmers to join EU-wide protests
NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said: “NFU Scotland’s national conference, AGM and dinner is a long-established highlight of the Scottish agricultural calendar, and we are delighted to have the First Minister join us to address our delegates on the Friday morning.
“NFU Scotland has had the opportunity to meet the First Minister on several occasions since his appointment and we have been in correspondence with him on key issues including future agricultural policy and funding for our sector.
“The theme of the conference is securing a profitable and sustainable future for Scotland’s farmers and crofters, and the benefits that would deliver for our rural economy, our rural communities, and our ambitions on increasing biodiversity and reducing emissions.
“We look forward to hearing from the First Minister on how his Government will support and deliver that vision in the months and years ahead.”
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