Last week, in a surprise move, the Scottish Beef
Cattle Association (SBCA) and the National Sheep Association (NSA) called on the Scottish Government to undertake an independent evaluation into how QMS is run unless it steps up its
marketing efforts.
That is contrary to the view of the vast majority of Scottish livestock producers and has revealed a major rift between the leadership of the two organisations and their respective memberships.
The limited opposition from the NSA and SBCA leadership appears to be the result of intense, behind-the-scenes lobbying by Jim
Walker, the former chairman of QMS. His views are
unlikely to prevail.
The SBCA and NSA leadership appears to have made an unexpected U-turn last week on their previous position. Before the recent round of public consultation meetings QMS senior representa-
tives took soundings from around 40 key representatives of the Scottish red meat industry.
Feedback from those meetings on the plans to raise levy rates was overwhelmingly positive and gave a clear
signal to QMS to proceed.
Towards the end of last week NFU Scotland threw their considerable weight behind the QMS proposals.
NFUS chief executive James Withers said: “A signi-ficant number of our members have now had the opportunity to hear about QMS’s future plans and what we’re hearing from the vast majority of members on the ground is supportive with positive suggestions on areas where they would like QMS to do further work on behalf of levy payers.”
Yesterday the National Beef Association, with a membership of more than 3500 UK beef producers and claiming to have more paid up members in Scotland than the break-away SBCA, also threw its weight behind the proposals.
“QMS works hard at making its £3.8m a year levy income cover a great deal of ground extremely effectively, but without an income rise it will soon be forced to cut back on extremely important activity”, explained Iain Mathers, chairman of NBA Scotland.
“Professionally run industries, with multi-million- pound turnovers, should not quibble when asked to
provide an additional 93p, which is the equivalent of 0.5% of the value of a typical Scottish slaughter beast”, he added.
Improved payments for hill farmers
THE Scottish Government confirmed yesterday that Scotland’s hill farmers will receive a major cash boost in January when a 19% increase in payments under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme will take effect. That increase should deliver an additional £15m to active farmers in remote rural areas.
Market report round-up
LAWRIE & Symington sold 68 cast cows and bulls at Lanark on Monday when beef cows averaged 92.8p per kg to a top of 122.4p and dairy cows averaged 73.3p to a top of 121.7p.
Three thousand and forty-nine prime lambs met a dearer trade averaging 166.4p. Averages: 179 light (25-32kg) 166.6p, 895 medium (32.1-39kg) 169.5p, 1618 standard (39.1-45kg) 166.9p and 342 heavy weights (45.1kg+) 130.9p.
Five hundred and thirty-two cast ewes and rams continued to meet a strong trade with Texels selling to £93.50, Greyface to £84.50, Cheviot to £77.50 and Blackface to £55.50.
James Craig Ltd sold 62 prime cattle in Ayr yesterday when all cattle proved harder to cash. Averages: 38 heifers 166.8p per kg to a top of 191p, 18 bullocks 150.5p to 184p, and six young bulls 163p to 170p.
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