The EU has announced a watered-down package for dairy producers.

The initial proposals for the EU dairy package – which came as a response to difficulties for the EU's dairy producers – were welcomed by Scotland's dairy farmers.

Hopes were raised when the European Parliament announced that it supported compulsory contracts and a producer organisation upper limit of 40%. It should come as no surprise to those who understand the political power of milk processors that both these elements have been significantly diluted.

NFU Scotland's vice- president Allan Bowie said: "The agreement is in many ways disappointing as it is clearly a political compromise which has missed a real opportunity to maximise on the EU High Level Group on Dairy's excellent recommendations.

"The High Level Group identified two main issues which had to be resolved to ensure that the risk and opportunities in the supply chain were more evenly shared: these were effective contracts and greatly increased negotiating powers for producers.

"The compromise that the trialogue (the EU's Council, Commission and Parliament) has agreed is that member states can decide whether to make contracts compulsory or not, and they have conceded on the scale of Producer Organisations, which are now limited to 33% of a member state's production.

"This compromise lacks vision, and we are disappointed that the European Parliament's views appear to have been lost in the discussion."

EID deadline delay

NFU Scotland has warmly welcomed a decision taken by the EU Commission to extend the deadline for the compulsory electronic tagging of sheep born before January 1, 2010 to the end of 2014.

The requirement to electronically tag the so-called "Historic Flock" had originally been scheduled to come into force at the end of December 2011, but sustained lobbying efforts have resulted in an extension to this deadline, which was formally endorsed by the Standing Committee for Food Chain and Animal Health on Tuesday.

There has been no obligation for animals born before January 1, 2010 to be electronically identified or individually recorded.

The new requirement to individually record the movement of these older sheep had represented a substantial administrative burden.

Market round-up

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd held their Christmas show and sale of prime cattle at Ayr on Tuesday. The champion animal in the yard was a superb black Limousin bullock shown by Alan Shennan, Farden Farm, weighing 605kg that was sold to the judge Nigel Bark on behalf of Hugh Black & Son Butchers, Lanark for 275p per kg or £1663.75. The reserve animal was a shapely Charolais heifer from Hugh and Lynne Dunlop, Holehouse that sold for 255p or £1479 to John Scott Meats, Paisley. The YFC champion was a smart, red Limousin heifer shown by James Hodge, Dykes that sold for 240p or £1416 to the judge on behalf of Hugh Black & Son Butchers, Lanark.

The 33 prime heifers averaged 200.9p or £1147.47, while 35 prime bullocks levelled at 200.3p or £1171.14. Over in the rough ring 83 beef cows averaged 125p, while 197 dairy cows levelled at 108p.

A small, but quality show of 12 dairy cattle met the dearest trade ever, selling to £2120 (x2), £2020 and £1950.

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had 4042 store lambs and feeders forward at their weekly sale in Longtown on Tuesday that met a furious trade due to numbers short of requirements.

Top prices and averages: Texel £91.50 and £73.04; Suffolk £85.50 and £72.53; Charollais £85.50 and £78.02; Greyface £79.50 and £70.25; Beltex £80.50 and £74.27; NCC £82.50 and £75.18; Lleyn £72.50; Roussin £75.50 and £72.80; Blackface £89.50 and £59.10; Hill Cheviot £87.50 and £60.24; Swaledale £65.50 and £40.93.