News

Lewis Funding Opportunities for Crofting Projects

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen is seeking proposals for funding support to projects related to crofting and other land-based enterprises on Lewis.

Lewis_funding.pdf

Bluetongue Vaccination Start Date Announced

Friday, October 10, 2008

The Scottish Government has announced the start date for compulsory bluetongue vaccination.

From the 3rd of November 2008, all cattle and sheep in Scotland of three months of age and older will legally require vaccination against strain 8 of the bluetongue virus (BTV8). Vaccination should be completed no later than 30 April 2009. Other susceptible species, such as goats, deer and llamas should be vaccinated on a voluntary basis. In total, around seven million animals will require vaccination in this six-month window. The dates reflect the time of year when low temperatures mean that the activity of the virus, and the midges responsible for transmitting it, is at its lowest. In the first year the Scottish Government is supporting half of the vaccine manufacturer costs.

From 30 April 2009, there will be an ongoing need to vaccinate newly born animals and a programme of annual boosters given to animals previously vaccinated against BTV8 to preserve their immunity.

As from the 3rd of November Scotland will be declared a Protection zone.

End.

SFP Payment in Euros Information

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Attention all producers who opted for your Single Farm payment in euoros. If you haven't yet submitted your bank details to SGRPID. Please contact them and do so immeadeatly.

Will The Proposed Crofting Reforms Be Enough Asks SCF

Friday, October 03, 2008

The Scottish Crofting Foundation has welcomed the Scottish Government’s response to the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, but asks ‘will it be enough?’

SCF Chairman Neil MacLeod said “there is a lot of good in the proposals put forward especially the intentions to encourage more new entrants, to give crofters more involvement in decision making and to reform governance and regulation. We have won some victories such as the retention of a reformed commission, the commitment to create a register and the dismissal of the residency burden, but the proposals are a bit thin in the area of making crofting more viable. We all know that regulation needs sorting out but effective regulation alone is not going to halt the decline unless it is backed up with real support measures. There have been no clear decisions yet on support such as the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, the levelling of Single Farm Payment, directing public goods payment to activity and support to home building, but these are all under review. It is yet to be seen therefore whether the proposals for crofting reform will be backed up enough by genuine support and fair payment for the goods crofters provide”.

PROPOSED_REFORMS.pdf