£23.4m of European funding is heading to calf producers

MORE than 7,500 Scottish producers will receive their share of £23.4 million of European funding this week,

under the terms of the 2009 Scottish Beef Calf Scheme for more than 406,000 animals claimed for last year.

The SBCS is the only direct support scheme allowed by the EU, established in 2005 with the specific aim of trying to ensure the future of the Scottish beef industry.

Payments are limited to calves with 75 per cent being based on their breeding and the other main qualification being that the animals are kept on the farm of their birth for at least the first 30 days of their life.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said the payments would provide "vital support and deliver great benefit for our livestock sector".

The cash was all the more important because of the impact of the severe winter weather on many farmers.

Lochhead said: "I am sure they will be welcomed by Scotland's quality beef producers, following on from the Single Farm Payments at the end of last year and the Less Favoured Area Support payments at the start of this year.

"Together, these payments form part of an important support framework that is always essential, and never more so than in the current economic climate."

Payments will start to arrive tomorrow, with the majority to be received by Friday, subject to necessary validation checks.

This year's payment rate is set at 125.80 (114.38) for each of the first ten cows, and 62.90 (57.19) for the remainder.