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Scottish beef producers to suffer under new CAP reforms
two cows
Around 20 per cent of farm businesses already making a loss are likely to see greater losses under the new reforms.

New regime will also impact Scottish dairy farms

Most Scottish beef farms will suffer financially under the new Common Agricultural Payments (CAP), research by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has found.

The new regime will also have an impact on Scottish dairy farms. Yet it is the world market price for milk that will have a more direct effect on future viability.

The research briefings put together by SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre and will help to inform policy makers.

In the study, researchers used details from the Scottish Farm Accounts Survey, together with data from Quality Meat Scotland. They also carried out a survey with farmers, examining their reactions to various scenarios.

The data was then processed through ’Scotfarm’, SRUC’s own economic computer model, which produced a optimised net profit for each farm.

“We considered farm level performance before the new reforms and compared that with farm performance post-reform,” says SRUC senior agricultural economist Steven Thomson. “Whilst the model did not allow for the five year transition process, we believe the results offer policy makers a good indication of the long-term effects on key enterprises.”

Scotfarm found that specialist beef producers are most affected, predicting that over three-quarters of the FAS businesses would be in a worse position. Of these, around a third are expected to suffer reduced profits, while another this would move from a profit to a loss.

Furthermore, around 20 per cent of farm businesses already making a loss are likely to see greater losses under the new reforms. Just 13 per cent of farms, on more extensive systems, are predicted to make a profit.

When asked about their intentions, farmers indicated that if they experienced a 25 per cent increase in payment they would enlarge their herds. However, the same intention survey suggests that faced with a 25 per cent cut in subsidy payments, over half would decrease their livestock numbers.

“It will be important to consider the future resilience of the sector with so many farms predicted not to show a profit,” comments Steven Thomson. “With lower support payments we believe that the sector will become increasingly polarised as farmers respond by either focussing on environmental support and reducing herd sizes, or simply become more intensive.”

The majority of dairy farms in Scotland are also expected to have reduced levels of profitability. However, CAP support represents a lower proportion of incomes in the sector. Researchers say it is the future volatility of the milk price and input costs that will have a greater impact on long-term viability.

Even so, dairy farmers stated a reluctance to maintain expansion plans under a reduced CAP support regime. They suggested that support payments still have an influence on decision-making in the dairy sector, particularly following falls in the world milk price.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.