NFU looks to count cost of severe chill on business

BEFORE all agricultural attention turns to the attractions of spring, NFU Scotland has called on its members to provide information on how the severe winter has affected their businesses.

Union members are being asked to complete a short form requesting information on additional feed costs incurred this winter as well as lamb losses and damage done to crops and grass.

The information will be used in future discussions with the European Union and the Scottish Government to help press the importance of support for Scottish agriculture. Policy director Scott Walker said: "There were horrendous snowfalls in late December with snow remaining on the ground for many weeks," he said. Many farmers will have incurred additional expense. We need to quantify these costs and losses."

However, the losses may be less than feared as yesterday the Scottish Government felt it necessary to remind producers that claims under the Severe Weather Grant Scheme must be made by 30 April.

In February, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead announced up to 3 million had been put into a fund to help those whose buildings had collapsed under the sheer weight of snow.

Yesterday he said: "There is up to 6,000 available per farmer to provide alternative housing for livestock."