Suckler support cash on its way

Payments of the Scottish suckler beef support scheme began yesterday – and the majority of the 7,000 claimants should see the support lodged in their bank accounts in the coming weeks, the Scottish Government claimed yesterday.

Paying £99 per mainland animal and £144 per island animal, the scheme is worth an estimated £38 million to Scottish farmers who breed beef calves.

“Having seen first-hand the significant impact that the prolonged wet weather has had on farmers, I can confirm that payments under the Scottish suckler beef support scheme will land in farmers’ banks accounts in the coming weeks – earlier than previously proposed,” said rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing.

Stating that suckler herds formed the backbone of Scotland’s world-famous quality beef industry, he added that the payments also helped provide environmental benefits in the country’s fragile areas.

NFU Scotland’s livestock committee chairman, Charlie Adam, said the payment would help ease cash flow worries in the industry.

“Given the weather endured in the past six months or more, things have been very challenging with bank accounts being drained to keep on top of rising feeding and bedding bills,” he said.

He added that the value of such support should not be underestimated: “Beef calf scheme claims are down and suckler cow numbers have been slipping, raising concerns about our capacity to produce quality beef going forward.

“If we are to maintain our beef production in the post-brexit era, then returns for suckled calf producers must be maintained or increased.”