Deer farmers up in arms

DEER FARMERS in Scotland have written to the Scottish Executive demanding a “fair” deal under the new single farm payment.

They have asked Ross Finnie, the Scottish Environment Minister, for money from the national reserve, even though their sector has never been supported by the CAP.

NFU Scotland is supporting their call, as an increasing number of “doubly disadvantaged” farmers in previously unsupported sectors come forward.

John Fletcher, chairman of the British Deer Farmers’ Association, said: “The unfairness with which Ross Finnie is handing out money to Scotland‘s farmers is eye-watering!

“Many thousands of farmers are to receive annual pay-outs into five figures and several hundred will be given over a quarter of a million pounds.

“But the largesse does not apply to those who were foolish enough to heed the advice of successive governments and diversify.

Mr Fletcher, who farms deer in Fife, is also concerned about competition from “subsidised” venison produced in England and elsewhere in the EU.

He said it would only cost the national reserve around £250,000 a year to create a level playing field for venison producers.

But a Scottish Executive spokeswoman said that the policy was clear, and applied equally to all unsupported sectors, including vegetable growers and pig units.

“Agricultural businesses such as deer farmers have never been supported under the traditional CAP subsidy regime, and are therefore not entitled to Single Farm Payment subsidy.

“This is due to the fact that the reform of Scottish CAP was largely to assist the industry to move to a more market-oriented business model whilst at the same time delivering cross-compliance benefits.”

Nor would the national reserve be open to previously unsupported sectors of production, she added.