No premium penalty for virus victims

17 October 2001



No premium penalty for virus victims

By Shelley Wright

FARMERS who lost stock to the foot-and-mouth crisis will not be penalised when it comes to sheep and cattle annual premium schemes.

The Scottish Executive has announced amendments which will exempt affected producers from the quota minimum usage rule.

Separate but similar arrangements are being announced for producers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The amendments affect the 2001 Suckler Cow Premium scheme and the 2002 Sheep Annual Premium Scheme.

Exemption from the quota minimum usage rule will apply to those who had their animals culled, including stock slaughtered under the welfare scheme.

In addition, exemption will be considered for other farmers if they can prove their failure to meet usage rules was in some way a result of the disease.

For the 2001 Suckler Cow Premium scheme year only, the requirement to use 90% of quota held will be cut to 70% for all cattle producers.