NFUs OTMS plan lacks support

22 August 1997

NFUs OTMS plan lacks support

THE NFUs livestock advisory committee has rejected the unions proposal to cut the Over Thirty-Month Scheme (OTMS) payment rate for cull cows and clean cattle in return for the removal of the 560kg payment ceiling.

There are also initial indications that members in some regions will find the proposal unacceptable, feeling that more farmers will lose than gain.

Questions have also been raised about what figures the NFU used to arrive at their proposed alternative to the OTMS weight limit. Information obtained by Farmers Weekly suggests the NFU only obtained monthly numbers and average weights of cattle entering the OTMS on Tuesday – the week after the proposals were formulated.