Published in the Edinburgh Evening News, Scotsman and Scottish Daily Mail, Association Chairman Tim Jackson highlights that Scotland's farmers are still waiting for CAP payments.
"Despite the Scottish Government's promise to pay out the first instalment of its Common Agricultural Policy support payments due to a quarter of Scotland's farmers before the end of 2015, with the 'vast majority' receiving 70% of their due before the end of this month, only 18% of farmers have received their part payments by the end of 2015, leaving four out of five applicants in the dark over when the first tranche of their payments will arrive.
"In response, NFU Scotland have rightly made it clear that 90% of relevant farmers should be receiving 90% of their overdue payments by the end of January.
"Recent government letters intended to provide an estimate of entitlement values to farmers has added to the confusion. Many farmers have not received such letters while some of those who have claim that the government's figures are wildly inaccurate.
"When raised with the relevant authorities, they have been told they are simply 'illustrative'. This hardly instils confidence or reduces hard-pressed farmer's financial concerns.
"Meanwhile, the Scottish Government, through the Department for Children and Young People, has decided, after nearly 70 years, to withdraw its financial support to the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs.
"The Association offers a crucial network for individuals aged 14-30 in rural Scotland as well as unique personal development opportunities, including helping to reduce rural isolation and increasing individual's confidence and skills.
"With the farming community feeling threatened by the lack of certainty and clarity contained in the Scottish Government's controversial land reform legislation, the chaos over its farm support payments and its withdrawal of funding for young farmers suggests that the SNP fails to understand both the economic importance and concerns of Scotland's crucial farming sector. No more so than here in East Lothian."