The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFUS) has said beef farmers’ application plans for the Scottish Suckler Beef Scheme (SSBSS) have been disrupted following late notice of its closure for maintenance.
Farmers and crofters with beef cows received news yesterday (Wednesday, December 20) that the government is pausing online applications to the scheme from 5:00p.m today (Thursday, December 21) until Thursday, January 4.
The deadline for applications to SSBSS has now been extended to midnight on Sunday, January 14.
NFUS said many beef producers will have been working towards the traditional deadline of December 31 for applications and the late notice will be an “unwelcome surprise”.
NFUS livestock chair High 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 January 14 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% to the total Scottish agricultural output.”
SSBSS
For the current SSBSS, any farmer or crofter producing beef calves can claim for any calf born between December 5, 2022 and December 2, 2023, provided the calves are at least 75% 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.
