Introduction - (closed to new applications from 31 December 2011)
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment announced on 29 July 2004 that, as part of the implementation of the Single Farm Payment, the option available under Council Regulation (EC) 1782/2003 (article 69) to implement a beef national envelope would be used. This will be effective from 1 January 2005. The key objectives are to support both the supply of quality Scotch beef and the environment.
Discussions were held with Stakeholders about different types of schemes that would deliver these objectives. The scheme which was agreed will be called the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme.
The scheme will be funded by retaining approximately 10% of the decoupled beef payments. This reduction has been shown in your latest up-to-date Estimate of Payments under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.
Submit your 2011 claim(s) early to avoid a later payment date
The 2011 Scottish Beef Calf Scheme (SBCS) closes for applications on 31 December 2011. We plan to start making payments around the start of April 2012 and our target is to pay all valid claims by 30 June 2012.
You can claim aid on calves meeting the scheme rules. If you haven't made a claim for this year's calves, and they are older than 30 days, you should submit a claim as soon as possible. Claims cannot be paid until they pass validation checks with the Cattle Tracing System operated by the British Cattle Movement Service. The last claims we process will be the ones we receive at the end of December.
The SBCS has an annual budget of 29.8 Million Euros before modulation. We will set the 2011 payment rate based on the number of animals claimed within the scheme year, with the first 10 animals for each business paid at a higher rate. Last year's payment rate was €62.70 or £52.19 per calf, €125.40 or £104.37 for the first 10 animals. The Euro Pound exchange rate for 2010 was set at 0.85995.
New scheme literature
New Notes for Guidance (NFG) are available on our website following changes to the regulations governing the scheme. The rules haven't changed, but we've rewritten the NFG and claim form to make them easier to understand. You can submit your claims electronically using our secure Rural Payments Online system. Our system is easy to use and has many benefits over using a paper claim. It will;
- allow Farm Management software packs to upload eartags of eligible animals,
- allow barcode reader use to scan eartag numbers of eligible animals from their BCMS passport,
- validate eartag numbers to stop typing mistakes,
- let you see a history of previous claims,
- provide 24 hour access and gives you an instant receipt,
- help reduce our administration costs.
Alternatively you can complete a paper claim and send it to your area office before 31 December 2011. Regardless of the method you choose, remember to check your acknowledgement letter which we will send you within 14 days.