Press Release - NBA Scotland calls on Government to support crippled beef farmers

National Beef Association Scotland calls on Government to support crippled beef farmers.

National Beef Association Scotland said this latest case of FMD will cripple farmers coming into the most important trading period of the year when many store and finished cattle come forward to sales and pedigree breeders were relying on high prices being paid for quality breeding stock at the main sales at Perth and other locations. 

Beef farmers will incur a lot of additional costs including the purchase of feed to maintain their livestock on the farms which normally would have marketed at this time and the existing feed source currently held on farm should be kept to maintain their breeding stock through the winter~ said Iain Mathers.    

The long term affects on the export market will be devastating because it will take months to rebuild confidences in Europe after yet again another disease set back and NBA Scotland says supermarkets must support a beef sector in crisis by offering a substantial price increase in the amount paid for beef and this must flow back down the supply chain.   

NBA Scotland is calling on the government to provide a relief fund to struggling farmers and others operating in the supply chain to avoid a complete meltdown of the industry.   We will be encouraging the government to consider bringing forward Single Farm Payments to help relieve the crippling financial situation faced by many in the beef sector.   

The Scotch Beef industry will need a lot of financial assistance from the government to help re-establish and promote our product to regain customer confidence at home and abroad and NBA Scotland has already discussed these issues with the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Lockhead. 

For more information: contact NBA Scotland.  0131 336 1754