SCF chief executive Donna Smith has written to Jim Fairlie, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, to hold him to his commitment made in parliament yesterday: Measures must be taken to avoid adverse impacts on crofters through the recently introduced calving interval conditionality.
SCF has repeatedly highlighted that the calving interval conditionality recently introduced by the Scottish government will be discriminatory for crofters and other small producers. Under the new policy, in order to secure support, a cow is required to produce another calf no more than 410 days after she’s given birth to the last one, with this interval planned to decrease in the future.
Research by SRUC professor Steven Thomson demonstrates that producers with small herds of less than eight cows will be worse off compared to today’s support levels under the new scheme if only one cow misses the calving interval. Crofters face particular challenges as they very often cannot control exactly when a bull is available because many of them rely on hired bulls from the Scottish government’s bull hire scheme or fellow producers. Combine this with the unpredictability of transport and often harsher weather, the conditionality puts crofters at a significant disadvantage for reasons entirely out with their control.
Thanks to SCF’s lobbying, the issue was raised in the Scottish parliament by Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant yesterday, receiving support across all opposition parties. Jim Fairlie, Scottish Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity said that he would reassure producers, and particularly those in crofting counties, that robust force majeure measures will be put in place, recognising the unique challenges that crofters face. This means that crofters should continue to be eligible for support if they miss the calving interval for reasons beyond their control. Further, the Minister has committed to closely monitor and review the impacts of the scheme, making changes in the future if necessary.
Following the parliamentary debate, SCF chief executive Donna Smith today has sought written reassurance from Jim Fairlie that the Scottish government will be setting out clear and robust force majeure measures and will assess the impact of the scheme. Donna Smith said: “We are pleased to see that the Scottish government appears to be willing to use some common sense. We will be holding them to their promise and will continue to press to ensure that any force majeure elements are adequate, workable and do indeed provide some mitigation for the challenges crofters often face.”
Examples of this, SCF suggests, should include bull arrival being delayed, bull becoming lame/sick, fertility issues with the bull, weather at bulling time or during gestation, disease in cow. SCF is seeking confirmation from Mr Fairlie about what will be considered and how this element of the scheme will be administered. Further, SCF have informed Mr Fairlie that they are keen to work with the Scottish Government to ensure that the list of measures is appropriate and that employing this element of the scheme is workable for crofters.
