Crofting
Bulls and sheep
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- Friday, 19 February 2010 16:55 Tamsin Morris Hits: 376
It looks like the Crofters bull hire scheme is set to continue for now, although its long-term future remains unclear. Meanwhile the Scottish Government has published guidance on the electronic tagging of sheep, including a package of support for farmers.
The crofters bull hire scheme became the scene of controversy when it looked like it might be abandoned (see previous article). After the deliberations of a review group, it now looks like it will continue, but the writing may be on the wall in the long term. Roseanna Cunningham MSP has confirmed that her view is that in the long term communities must provide this facility themselves. The Scottish Crofting Foundation welcomed the scheme's temporary reprieve, but highlighted their fears that any reduction in the scheme would lead to the cost per bull becoming prohibitive for many crofters. You can read their comments here.
Those with livestock also need to keep an eye on the new sheep tagging guidance, which has caused concern throughout Scottish farming, particularly for small farms and crofts (see previous article). There's a package of measures to help simplify the process, which was welcomed by the National Farmers Union for Scotland. You can read full details on the Scottish Government website.
