Outline of the Scheme - (closed to new applications from 31 December 2011)
The Scottish Beef Calf Scheme (SBCS) came into effect on 1 January 2005.
Claimant
· A producer who breeds and keeps eligible calves on Scottish land continuously from birth for 30 days;
· Claimants under the scheme will need to maintain their land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition and comply with Statutory Management Requirements.
Eligible animals
· Male and female calves which are at least 75% beef bred;
· Born on Scottish land and kept there continuously from birth for at least 30 days;
· No older than 30 days on 1 January 2005 i.e. animals born on or after 2 December 2004;
· Registered on the Cattle Tracing System and have a valid cattle passport.
Claims
· Can be submitted from 1 January 2005 electronically or on a paper claim form to a SEERAD Area Office;
· No limit on the number of claims which can be submitted in a calendar year;
· Movement cards from the passports of claimed calves should be enclosed with the paper claim form;
· No late claim period, and therefore, no late claim penalties.
· Claims received after 31 December will be deemed to be a claim in the following year.
Penalties
· Scheme penalties will be applied if animal(s) fail eligibility checks.
· Cross compliance penalties incurred under the Single Farm Payment Scheme will affect payments under the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme.
Payments
· The payment rates for eligible animals will vary from year to year depending on the total number of eligible animals claimed in Scotland each year;
· The first ten eligible calves claimed in any calendar year will be paid at a higher rate than any subsequent eligible calves claimed in the same year;
· We aim to make payments in February the year following submission of the claim, for example a claim made in December 2005, will be paid in February 2006.