Industry given late notice as Scottish Government to shut down online applications until New Year
Farmers and crofters with beef cows have received late notice today (20 December) from Scottish Government that it is shutting down online applications to the Scottish Suckler Beef Scheme (SSBSS) from 5pm tomorrow (21 December) until Thursday 4 January 2024 for essential maintenance.
The deadline for applications to SSBSS, a scheme worth £40 million to support the production of beef calves, has now been extended to midnight on Sunday 14 January 2024. Many beef producers will have been working towards the traditional deadline of 31 December for applications and the late notice will be an unwelcome surprise.
NFU Scotland’s Livestock Chair, Hugh Fraser, said: “This late notice will have disrupted many people’s plans for submitting their applications, but I urge them to reschedule and get the claims in between 4 and 14 January next year. The value of this scheme to Scotland’s iconic red meat sector cannot be underestimated as it ensures producers around the country are encouraged to keep producing beef calves to underpin the production of quality Scotch Beef. The iconic Scotch Beef brand continues to be the cornerstone of our red meat sector and contributes 24 percent to the total Scottish agricultural output.”
For the current scheme, any farmer or crofter producing beef calves can claim for any calf born between 5 December 2022 and 2 December 2023, provided the calves are at least 75 per cent beef genetics and have been kept on the holding of birth for at least 30 days. The scheme budget of £40 million is split with £34 million for calves born on the mainland and £6 million for calves born on the islands. The payment rates are determined by the number of eligible calves claimed. Last year, payment rates were £101.42 for mainland calves and £144.47 for island calves.
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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006