UK: Deadline delay for suckler beef calf scheme

The Scottish government will close online applications to the Scottish suckler beef scheme (SSBSS) today in what has been called an 'unwelcome surprise' by the sector. The scheme, which provides £40 million to support the production of beef calves, underpins the production of Scotland's iconic beef sector. Farmers or crofters producing beef calves can claim for any calf born between 5 December 2022 and 2 December 2023. However, the Scottish government has announced it will shut down applications from 5pm today (21 December) for maintenance, until 4 January 2024. The deadline for applications, which was originally 31 December, has now been extended to 14 January 2024. NFU Scotland said the late notice will have disrupted farmers' plans for submitting their applications. "Many beef producers will have been working towards the traditional deadline of 31 December for applications and the late notice will be an unwelcome surprise," said Hugh Fraser, NFU Scotland’s livestock chair. "The ...