Extra financial help for farmers may be on way

Bad weather and lack of fodder and straw continue to hit sector

Additional support for farmers and crofters is being considered by the Scottish Government in the wake of exceptionally bad weather, a lack of fodder and straw, and increased livestock losses.

No further detail is known at this stage, but the confirmation that extra assistance may be forthcoming follows a meeting near Stranraer between the farmers’ union and Emma Harper MSP, where NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick called for regular payments to be brought forward and assistance with fallen stock costs to be made available as soon as possible.

A government spokesman said: “We appreciate the challenges that Scottish farmers and crofters are continuing to face as a result of the poor weather conditions and are currently considering what additional support may be made available.”

Ms Harper was told that many livestock and dairy farmers have been seriously hit by the high fodder costs which were caused by the poor weather last autumn. These costs were exacerbated by the long hard winter which continued right to the end of March and is still affecting farmers now.

Mr McCornick said: “This has been an extremely tough winter for many, starting off on the wrong foot with the poor harvest and continuing on with some of the worst snow spells we have seen in quite a few years.

“We have heard from our members that many are seeing a steep increase in the amount of fallen stock they are having to pay to be collected. This added expense, on top off the loss of income that comes with losing livestock, can be a serious burden financially as well as mentally.”

SQUEEZE: Higher fodder costs are having an impact on farmers