NFU Scotland has welcomed yesterday's announcement from the Scottish Government that an interim replacement for the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme (SBCS) will be in place for the start of 2012.
Date:
Tue, 02 Aug 2011
Source:
NFUS
NFUS:
website
This welcome piece of forward thinking allows for the SBCS replacement scheme to come into force, irrespective of the timing of the outcome from forthcoming discussions around reform of the CAP regime.
The benefits to the beef sector generated by the scheme are broadly preserved in the new version, although rates have been altered to the benefit of those with smaller herds such as crofters, small farmers and new entrants.
Speaking from the annual agricultural show at Turriff, Aberdeenshire, NFU Scotland’s President Nigel Miller said:
“Without taking this action, there was the risk that delays in securing a CAP reform agreement could have left us without any direct support for our beef industry. This interim announcement guarantees that the principles of the scheme will be preserved from 2012 until such times as a new CAP package is in place.
“That removes any uncertainty that beef producers may have had on the immediate future and crucially buys some time for Scotland and stakeholders to continue to develop their thinking on how best to support extensive livestock under any new CAP regime. A solution is important as more than 422,000 beef calves born in Scotland last year qualified for the SBCS payment, underpinning Scotland's important beef industry.
“The pot of money in the scheme remains the same at just under 30 million euros. However, the decision to increasingly target that money towards the most vulnerable producers by increasing the rates paid on the first 10 calves will make a huge difference to crofters, small farmers and new entrants alike. For them, the economics of keeping cows, particularly in more remote areas, is dependent on ongoing support.
“For larger beef farmers, where returns from the SBCS are a smaller part of their overall turnover, it is important that any dip in support is more than compensated for by more meaningful returns being generated from the marketplace for their cattle. These producers are the engine room of Scotland’s world-renowned beef industry and it is important that consumers, retailers and processors give them suitable encouragement to continue to grow their beef enterprises.”
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