Scottish Quality Cereals cuts charges
By Olivia Cooper
FARM assurance organisation Scottish Quality Cereals has made significant reductions in membership charges for the coming season.
Subscription rates, both for existing members and new applicants, have been revised, bringing the average basic payment down from 200 to 145.
There will also be a 45% rebate on all 2001/2002 subscription renewal fees – a saving of about 65.
“Continued cost savings, coupled with an unexpectedly big rise in membership, to its highest ever level at just over 3000, have made these one-off reductions possible,” says SQC.
In addition, there will again be a 5% discount for the 1800 farmers who are also members of other farm assurance schemes, with a 10 discount for those who pay by direct debit.
However, it has not all been smooth running – SQC has discovered that some assurance forms have been fraudulently given to farmers who are not SQC assured.
Anyone found doing this will be permanently barred from SQC membership.
And although most members act speedily to fix minor deficiencies on farm, those who fail to comply for three successive inspections will be suspended for one year.