Scottish farmers demand clarity on £40m beef support scheme
NFU Scotland has called again on the Scottish Government to urgently bring forward details of its proposed reform of the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS).
Government has confirmed that the scheme, currently worth £40 million, will be a feature of future support arrangements in Scotland.
Payments to eligible calves under the current scheme year are imminent but proposed changes to the scheme rules for 2025 and beyond, including the introduction of calving interval rules, have yet to be shared with the industry.
NFU Scotland wants the reformed SSBSS to include the following:
• The budget should be retained and continue to be delivered in the same cyclical manner
• Split payments between meeting existing eligibility criteria and new conditionality
• A mechanism for recognition of pre-registration of stillborn calves
• For a ‘force majeure’ option to be available for any producers affected by unforeseen or exceptional circumstances.
NFU Scotland livestock chair Hugh Fraser said: “We continue to ask for clarity on this vital scheme for those producing beef calves in Scotland. It is not feasible, fair nor realistic for the industry to operate on speculation.
“With payments under the 2023 scheme expected in bank accounts soon, the importance of a clear and timely announcement on arrangements for the new scheme year are essential. [The] Scottish Government must give explicit clarity on their expectations for suckler beef producers so that we can have some certainty”.
By Alec Ross | The Herald Scotland
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