The increases that come into affect from April 2010 are: cattle 93p, sheep 13p and 21p for pigs.

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs said: “As part of its business planning process for 2010/11 and beyond, I have asked Donald Biggar, QMS chair, to explore further the scope for achieving savings and I am pleased such a commitment has been given.

“Looking to the future, I have also written to Hilary Benn requesting that we discuss urgently how a more equitable distribution of levy can be achieved by focusing on the point of production, which can result in £900,000 extra

revenue for Scotland per year. I have also instructed my officials to further explore opportunities for increasing the volume of Scottish sheep processed here in Scotland rather than down south.”

New LFA proposals

NFU Scotland is to take a new proposal on delivery of Scotland’s Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS) to the Scottish Government, in a bid to secure a more equitable deal for all of Scotland’s LFA livestock farmers.

The union’s principal aim is to ensure that LFASS support, worth around £65m this year, rising to £71m next year, is targeted at active units in general and the most vulnerable units in particular, regardless of their location in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to increase the payment rates in the Fragile and Very Fragile areas by 19% for this year and a further 19% for the 2010 scheme compared with LFASS 2008.

That has incensed farmers in LFAs not deemed fragile, (Standard areas) who received no increase. The union proposal would not impact on the existing commitment from the Cabinet Secretary.

NFU Scotland vice-president, Nigel Miller explained: “We believe our proposal would deliver uplifts in LFASS payments, from 2011, for those actively farming the more disadvantaged land in the Standard area.

“This would be achieved by moving monies from the inactive producers to the active producers, and not by shifting funds either from region to region or from sector to sector”.

l The candidates for the offices of NFUS vice-president were announced yesterday with the news that the existing office-holders will be re-elected unchallenged.

Market report round-up

At John Swan’s sale at St Boswells yesterday 55 prime bullocks averaged 170.4p/kg (-3.7p on the week) and sold to 192p, whilst 58 heifers averaged 170.6p/kg (-1.7p on the week) and sold to 194p.

41 beef type OTM averaged 110p/kg and sold to 166p.

1759 prime lambs averaged 196.9p/kg (+24.1p on the week) and sold to £98 and 217.5p/kg.

704 ewes averaged £68.14 (+£6.90 on the week and sold to £122.