SQC increase fees by 9.8%

SCOTTISH Quality Crops have written to their members to explain that the membership fee is rising by 9.8%.

This will bring the typical cost for the 3200 members from Band 1, £189-£209/year and Band 4, £335-£376/year which mirrors the Consumer Price Index.

SQC scheme fee increases in previous years have been minimal – and kept well below the CPI inflation rate to protect members and take into account issues being faced within the agricultural sector. The rise in fees is being put down to international accreditation and running cost rises.

The decision was made by the SQC board and key industry partners with the members being informed through their renewal letters.

SQC chair, Andrew Moir said: “We have, until now, been absorbing high external costs which are required to keep our own membership of schemes such as the SAI Global Platform and RED II. If we don’t maintain membership of these schemes, then we rule out a large number of potential buyers for our product. It also means we prevent a pile of separate audits for our members.

“The fact is, we have to have an assurance scheme and the projected costs are going to rise. We only have one employee, and we are keeping expenditure to a minimum but external cost rises means we simply have to balance the books.

“We have consulted with the members before the decision and taken on board their comments including improved communication. I don’t think it is an unexpected rise for members.”

Amy Geddes, from Wester Braikie Farms, near Arbroath, grows 510 acres of cereals and her last fee costed £314, excluding VAT. She said: “When you take into account the phenomenal rise in costs that people are experiencing, I don’t think membership bodies like SQC are entirely exempt.

“Folk will have their opinions on the value the scheme provides. Personally, I understand it offers growers a key to market and should allow us to reduce the number of audits needed going forward, ultimately opening up premium markets.

“We don’t want to end up in a situation where different merchants run different schemes creating greater bureaucracy and more costs,” she pointed out.