Suckler beef payments set to roll out in Scotland

Scottish farmers and crofters will soon receive their annual payments under the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS), with higher individual payments reflecting the drop in calf numbers in 2023.

The £40m fund is targeted at calves born during the calendar year that are at least 75% from a beef breed and have been kept on the holding for at least 30 days since birth.

See also: How to manage difficult calvings in beef cattle

This year’s payments – set to hit the bank accounts of almost 6,000 claimants from Thursday 28 March – have been set at £105.10 an animal on the Scottish mainland and £151.24 an animal on the Scottish islands.

These rates are a few pounds more than was paid last year on 2022 claims, reflecting the fact that the national herd has been shrinking. Just 366,371 calves were claimed on in 2023, compared with 379,740 the previous year.

NFU Scotland vice-president Andrew Connon said: “It is concerning to see a 4% fall in animals claimed, which signifies that our iconic beef sector still faces ongoing uncertainty and vulnerability, despite the very robust prices for store and prime cattle being seen just now.”

However, he welcomed a previous commitment from the Scottish government that the SSBSS will remain part of support arrangements for beef farmers after 2025, albeit with new conditionality around calving intervals.

“We look forward to the Scottish government bringing forward details on the new conditionality rules that will be attached to the scheme at the earliest opportunity, as spring calving is already in full swing across Scotland,” Mr Connon added.