Good news on calf payments
Published at 21:37, Wednesday, 25 April 2012
CONFIRMATION that the number of beef calves securing payment under the Scottish beef calf scheme has risen for the second consecutive year has been welcomed.
NFU Scotland is also pleased that money paid under the scheme has started to hit bank accounts this week.
According to government figures, 7,900 beef producers submitted claims for about 434,000 calves in 2011, about 10,000 more calves than in 2010 and 26,500 more than in 2009.
It is expected that 95 per cent of recipients will receive their payments by the end of April.
Before modulation, the payment rate is set at £102.44 (118.20 Euros) for each of the first 10 eligible animals and £51.22 (59.10 Euros) for the remainder.
NFUS president Nigel Miller said:
“Higher numbers of beef calves being claimed may contradict the most recent census results on declining beef cow numbers but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that producers are being more ruthless in culling barren cows.
“This payment run will be the last under the existing rules but its 2012 replacement is already in place, underpinning the beef industry.
“A standalone scheme supporting beef production has been an important part of the basket of support measures available to farmers and the ongoing availability of such schemes will be an important part of our priorities as we discuss the future shape of CAP support in the coming months.”
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