Farmers and crofters are being reminded they are not exempt from social distancing rules.
In a blog on the union’s website, NFU Scotland director of policy, Jonnie Hall, says operating a business in a physically remote area will not buy immunity from Covid-19.
“Nor can it be any sort of excuse not to fully comply with solid and demonstrable social distancing in every context of agricultural activity,” added Mr Hall.
He urged farmers to liken their approach to the disease as they would when maintaining biosecurity for livestock.
“The farming cycles of spring work, calving and lambing tend to bring their own degree of isolation without enforcing and change,” added Mr Hall.
“However, there are still a raft of farming and normal activities that do need to be adjusted by us all.”
He said farmers must ensure all staff and contractors are fully briefed on safe working and social distancing, and farm businesses should also endeavour to demonstrate to their customers and the public that their operations are fully compliant with guidelines.
“Government guidance applies as much in rural areas, and to agriculture, as it does in towns and cities and it is imperative to ensure farming continues, but does so by strictly adhering to practices, some which may be new or very different, that put social distancing at the forefront of what might otherwise be everyday agricultural activities,” he added.
“Our priority, as Scotland’s agricultural industry, must be to help ensure sustained production of safe, high quality food, produced to the most exacting of standards, while also doing all we can to minimise the risk of transmitting Covid-19.”