Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead outlines his thoughts on the current CAP reform 
negotiations and the challenges for Scotland.
These are important times for Scottish farmers. The Common Agricultural Policy reform negotiations have now begun in Brussels and they will have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences.
That's why it's so important that Europe gets it right and that's why I have pledged to do all I can to secure the best possible deal for Scottish farmers.
These efforts have already started and we are working hard to ensure that both the UK government and European institutions are well aware of Scotland's distinctive needs because one-size-fits-all simply will not work when it comes to CAP reform.
This is illustrated very clearly, and very close to home, by the fact that 85 per cent of our land is eligible for the Less Favoured Area status - which is the reverse of the situation south of the border.
So what do we want from CAP reform?
Well, clearly we need flexibility to ensure that we have a support system that works for Scotland and supports the right people, at the right time, in the right sectors.
One of our key principles is to make sure that support is targeted toward farmers who are genuinely active and producing for the nation. I believe it's crucial that we remember the importance of maintaining our food supplies when considering support for farmers. Too often, in the past this vital end result has been forgotten by the EU. Yet without support many farm businesses would become unviable.
And when it comes to the so-called 'greening' of the CAP, I also find myself returning to the issue of food production. While I have no objection to the principal of greening I feel that the way the measure is being proposed could be counter productive.
Something else which we feel strongly about is support for new entrants and it's becoming clear that this is an issue which many farmers also support. That's why we believe it's vital that new entrants are catered for - those farmers who are excluded from the current regime must be included from day one in the new regime.
Another thing we would support is the introduction of limited coupled payments, particularly for producers in more remote areas of Scotland who face additional challenges.
Thankfully some of our key proposals have been reflected in the initial proposals from the EC. The new wording of the proposed definition of agricultural activity is a direct result of our lobbying, as are some of the details in the new criteria proposed for designating land as Areas of Natural Constraint, the successor to LFA status.
Overall, however, our current view is that the proposals on the table at the moment are wrapped up in too much bureaucracy and complexity. But that in itself may pose a conundrum - a simpler system may reduce red tape but may also mean that the support is not as well targeted as we would like while a more stringent scheme is bound, by its very nature, to be more bureaucratic. So there is clearly a careful balancing act to be done here and I believe flexibility will be required to allow us to tailor a system that meets our needs.
So where do we go from here? Well, my officials and I will continue to press Scotland's case strongly, both at Westminster and Brussels. But we're also keen to engage with the people who will be directly affected by CAP reform.
That's why I'd urge you to attend one of the public meetings that are taking place around the country to hear exactly what is being proposed. Or, if you can't make it, you can view the presentation and listen to the podcast. In the new year we'll also be holding a consultation on the proposals to find out what you think - I hope you'll take the opportunity to let us know what you think. After all, this reform is going to directly affect Scottish farmers for years to come.