Crofters Reminded To Apply For Cattle Scheme
SCOTLAND - NFU Scotland is reminding producers that the Crofting Cattle Quality Improvement Interim Scheme 2008-2009 is still open for applications until 17 December 2007.The scheme welcomes applications from crofting townships, grazings committee and other crofting cattle producers and groups. Successful candidates can receive grant assistance of fifty per cent of the hire fee for up to two bulls and a further one hundred pounds may be made to applicants on completion of a simple cattle improvement plan. Suitable bulls are available for hire from the Crofters Commission’s stud farms.
New applicants should contact Neil MacDonald on 01463 663413 or Anne Williamson or 01463 663427.
NFU Scotland’s Crofting, Highlands and Islands Committee Chairwoman, Jo Durno, said:
“We would encourage crofters to apply for the Crofting Cattle Quality Improvement scheme as it gives them access to good quality bulls of known health status, which should give rise to good quality offspring. Using these bulls has a proven result for crofters selling store cattle and the finishers firmly support this scheme as well.
“However, I am concerned about the future of this vital scheme. A consultation was held three years ago, but a new scheme has never come into being. In the meantime, producers using the scheme are unsure about its future.
“We are still in contact with the Scottish Government on this issue and I hope very much that they will soon come forward with proposals which are compatible with E.U. state-aid rules.”
TheCattleSite News Desk