Union requests Scottish gov to 'urgently consider' changes to upland scheme

A farming union has formally requested that the Scottish Government 'urgently considers' changes to the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS).

The request, by NFU Scotland, follows a similar request in September 2016.

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.

Now into its third year, NFU Scotland has said the scheme continues to cause difficulties for those most reliant on payments as a major part of their direct support payments.

NFU Scotland believes that the changes proposed will make SUSSS more effective in meeting its policy goals without compromising important requirements such as eligibility, inspection and validation.

More importantly, NFU Scotland notes, is that these changes would be budget neutral, but would make the scheme more effective.

Improve effectiveness

The first amendment proposed by NFUS is to alter the SUSSS application period, currently 1 September to 16 October, to the increased period of 1 September to 30 November with the start of a new retention period from 1 December to 31 March.

To improve the effectiveness of ewe hogg payments being targeted at those most reliant on these payments, NFU Scotland also proposes that the number of eligible ewe hoggs that can be claimed on should be no more than a fixed proportion (20 or 25 per cent) of the ewes and gimmers of the regular breeding flock of the claimant.

NFU Scotland’s President Andrew McCornick said: “As a Union, we are resolutely focused on making effective changes to SUSSS so that this essential support is targeted correctly.

“We are not seeking to amend the budget or payment rate components of the Scheme, but we are seeking to make it more closely aligned to the interests of those businesses it is clearly intended to support.”

'Too short'

Mr McCornick said the application period is 'evidently too short' for many hill farmers and crofters.

He continued: “Some not able to access hill ground until after the close of the application period (16 October) due to the terms of their lease that prevent them from gathering eligible animals until after 20 October (the end of the stag stalking season).

“And many simply cannot fully gather all their eligible animals in such a narrow time frame.

“I believe that these changes to application and retention periods would not compromise the required inspection regime, but would give those applicants dependent on the Scheme the best opportunity to access this support specifically targeted at them.

Mr McCornick concluded: “To improve the effectiveness of ewe hogg payments being targeted at those most reliant on these payments, NFU Scotland is also adamant that an effective control is required to help prevent those with an excess of ewe hoggs over and above the numbers required to maintain their breeding flock from taking advantage – which is one of the stated intentions of this coupled support scheme.”