Calf scheme to end in March
Calf scheme to end in March
FARM minister, Nick Brown, seems unlikely to extend the calf processing scheme beyond its Mar 29 deadline despite pressure from the NFU and the industry.
NFU president, Ben Gill, was due to raise the issue with Mr Brown at a meeting this week.
But Peter Scott, secretary of the Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers, said he was convinced the scheme would come to an end in two months time, as MAFF had neither the funds nor the inclination to extend it.
Unofficially, MAFF admits that the scheme is unlikely to be extended again. But the official line is that the minister has the scheme under review and will listen to any comments before making a final decision.
Mr Scott said the meat trade was keen for farmers to fatten the types of calves going into the processing scheme.
"Last year we had to import 164,000t of manufacturing beef to meet domestic demand. If the scheme was stopped then we could meet demand with domestically produced beef," he said.
Originally, government intended to end the scheme on Nov 31 last year. But, after intensive lobbying from the farming industry, Mr Brown announced an extension through to the end of the financial year.