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NFU Scotland has welcomed today’s announcement from Scottish Government of permanent changes to rules within the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme.The scheme, worth around £6 million, is designed to assist active hill farmers and crofters through a payment coupled to the number of ewe hoggs they keep as breeding replacements for their flocks.The Union has consistently called for the application period in the scheme to be extended to provide greater flexibility and reflect the poor weather and the difficulties that farmers and crofters can have in trying to gather hill sheep at that time of year. Due to the poor weather last year, the 2017 scheme application period was temporarily extended. Today’s announcement by Scottish Government makes that extension permanent. The SUSSS application period will now run from 1 September to 30 November (previously 1 September to 16 October) and the retention period will be from 1 December to 31 March the following calendar year (previously 17 October to 31 March).Chairman of NFU Scotland’s Less Favoured Areas committee, Robert Macdonald, who farms at Grantown on Spey, said: “These new rules will now make the scheme more effective, giving people time to access hill ground. The previous application window meant that some had to rush to gather eligible animals and, for some, this gathering would have overlapped with the stag stalking season.“The Union and our LFA Committee has been consistent in its calls for changes to SUSSS. Given the importance of this support package to hill farmers and crofters, it’s vital that the scheme performs effectively for those who are eligible. “Last year we saw the welcome temporary change to deadlines by the Scottish Government due to the weather, and this gave people time to gather eligible animals.“The problems with the weather in 2017 were exceptional but, by no means, a one-off and it’s therefore welcome to see the Scottish Government make these changes permanent going forward.” EndsContact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006
Author: Bob Carruth
Date Published: 19/04/2018
News Article No.: 55/18
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A dairy farmer’s son, I joined NFU Scotland in 1999 after 13 years as an agricultural journalist. Following spells as a regional manager and policy lead on milk, livestock and animal health and welfare, I became Communications Director in 2008.
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