Deadline for Scots weather aid scheme looms
Scottish farmers affected by the snow in spring 2013 have just days left to apply for winter weather aid.
The closing date for applications to the weather aid scheme is 5 July.
NFU Scotland is encouraging farmers and crofters to apply to the £6m scheme if they endured stock or crop losses as a result of this year’s exceptionally intense and prolonged winter, including the spring sandstorms, which affected the North East and Moray coastline.
Anyone keeping livestock can also claim a rebate if they used a fallen stock collection service – either through NFSCo operators or independent collectors – in March, April or May this year.
NFU Scotland’s president Nigel Miller said: “Millions of pounds have been stripped out of Scottish farming in the past year.
“This scheme is a safety net to inject some extra resources into businesses where losses must mean cashflow will not recover until at least 2014.”
Businesses must have experienced one or more of the following to be eligible:
- Lost 10% or more breeding ewes/lambs put to the ram/goats
- Reared 20% fewer lambs/kids in 2013 from the equivalent number of breeding stock
- Lost 5% or more other breeding livestock
- Reared 10% fewer calves/other livestock from the equivalent number of breeding stock
- Had to re-sow 20% or more of an arable crop.