Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has revealed Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs ) Secretary of State Owen Paterson's proposals to allow Scotland to implement a higher rate of coupled support.
After a meeting with Mr Paterson in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Lochhead said: "It now appears that the only way to comply with the regulations to enable Scotland to have a higher level of voluntary coupled support is potentially through a UK-wide coupled support scheme which only applies to Scotland, rather than a specific Scottish-led scheme.
"If the proposal that is emerging from the commission is confirmed then clearly we will need to carefully consider the implications of such a scheme, as it would inevitably reduce Scotland's influence and control.
"Whilst it may appear this is simply a different way of achieving the same outcome it may have wider implications, particularly given a Scottish-led scheme only required the UK's permission for greater flexibility.
"As the UK will have to notify any scheme to Europe, I pressed Mr Paterson on whether the UK government will back a Scottish voluntary coupled support rate of 13%. If we do get confirmation from Europe that this is possible then I expect to have the full support of the UK government."
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NFU Scotland's President Nigel Miller and CEO Scott Walker met European Commission officials in Brussels to discuss the possibility of Scotland being able to make emergency interim payments to SFP (Single Farm Payment) recipients should the new scheme hit significant difficulties.
While Scotland has an excellent track record in support payment delivery, the shift to an area-based scheme has led to producer concerns about the support timetable being met.
Mr Walker said: "The new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) regime and the required move towards an area-based payment system from 2015 onwards is likely to drive complexity into the system, with the potential for delays. Given the risks and concerns, we feel it is appropriate to have a contingency plan in place that ensures successful SFP applicants could receive at least a part payment when the window opens in December 2015, should failures in the system emerge.
"The meeting with commission officials has helped establish how a contingency could possibly be developed should payment of SFP next year be delayed."
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United Auctions sold 897 store heifers at Stirling on Thursday to a top of 260.7p per kg and an average of 219.9p (-2.4p on the week), while 1132 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 286.9p and levelled at 233.9p (-1.1p). One-hundred-and-seven store, B&W bullocks sold to 174.1p and averaged 150.9p (+0.7p), while 55 store bulls peaked at 250p and levelled at 195.3p. In the rough ring 121 cows averaged 130.9p.
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