The Scottish Executive has announced what it claims is a £25m aid package for Scotland's livestock farmers sruggling to deal with the effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
NFU Scotland's verdict is that the announcement is progress, but much more is needed (it is also putting the value of the package at £19m, rather than £25m).
NFUS President Jim McLaren said: “Today’s rescue package is just that. It is not compensation for losses, which go far higher than the money announced today. For a farmer with a 1000 breeding sheep, he will be facing losses in excess of £20,000. This aid package would put £6000 into that business. That may just be enough to cover the bills he’s facing now and bring some immediate relief, but it doesn’t get close to addressing his losses.
“It is a bitter disappointment that the welfare problems facing the pigs and dairy industry have not been recognised in today’s package. Both government and industry must now look urgently at getting export restrictions further unwound and processors must use the private storage aid made available by Brussels for pigmeat.
“We are an industry crippled by a disastrous set of circumstances that are not of our making and are the result of negligence. Over the next few days we will be looking further into options to get full justice and compensation for our members.”
The fight goes on.