SIR, The kick-back against the introduction of a calving interval gateway to validate claims for Scottish Sucker Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) has bounced the future of the Scottish beef calf support scheme into the party-political arena.

In the same week, in Denmark, a more radical approach to reduce enteric emissions was outlined; a methane tax to be launched in 2030 at £34/ton rising to £84 in 2035.

Closer to home the Westminster budget has already confirmed a fast-tracked end of direct agricultural support south of the border and programmed a tax on fertiliser again to reduce emissions.

In Scotland, the Government commitment to continued direct support including coupled payments, all be it with conditionality attached to move the industry towards net zero and nature targets looks very different. A more positive approach to a sector which has been challenged by more than a 40% increase in costs since 2020 and faces the future demands of low carbon production.

The introduction of new conditions is always uncomfortable and comes at a time when grazing livestock numbers are in long term decline, with producer confidence fragile and future policy unclear.

Changes to the SSBSS have landed heavily in that world.

The 410 day calving interval gateway to the SSBSS is designed to incentivise reproductive efficiency and reduce the carbon cost of production. The calving interval gate to nudge change was selected, after analysis of Scot EID data, to be widely achievable and aligned with improving herd financial performance. It is about moving the national herds calving profile in a carbon positive direction while also delivering support.

Some calves will be born out-with the eligible calving period and will not qualify for support; concerns that small producers will be disproportionately affected look valid.

In small herds a single or small number of calves born outside the required calving window may result in a high percentage of the support package being lost. Herds in the crofting counties, are more likely to be subject to extreme weather events which can impact on grazing quality during the bulling period. Small herds with no direct access to spare bull capacity are more vulnerable if bull injuries or fertility issues emerge during the bulling season.

The way force majeur is operated by RPID should compensate for those risks in small herds and if issues emerge changes should be built into the SSBSS to underpin the support of cows on crofts and in small herds.

For the majority of beef producers we have just got to make the new rules work. Where we can improve reproductive performance it is a win win result. Producers in other parts of the UK don’t have that opportunity.

There is no future for cows unless we face the methane issue head-on and reduce our emissions. We need to surpass the 30% methane reduction pledge made at the COP in Glasgow.

The Calving rule is a first small step towards lower methane emissions; reducing the average age at slaughter, validated feed additives which are accepted into the national inventory and rumen biome based breeding are all tools which we as an industry should be looking at as part of a step by step methane reduction programme. The 30% reduction target can be surpassed.

Ireland have been looking at the age of animals at slaughter for several years, two member states in the EU have indicated that feed additives to reduce enteric emissions may be part of their climate change response.

It’s important that Scottish farming catches up and leads on methane reduction and the management of other emissions. We don’t have a choice as inaction just means others will dictate future production standards the size and shape of our industry.

Of course its not all about carbon, hill, regenerative and conservation grazing systems are part of the future.

Already buyers, processors and retailers are responding to scope 3 demands to both recognise and minimise the carbon impact of the whole supply chain. They will increasingly make demands on their partners or suppliers to adopt low carbon systems and practices.

Today’s climate change demands on producers will only grow unless Scotland adopts national science based low carbon production standards. Standards which fit with increasing food production as populations grow and climate change impacts world production.

Farmers must be open to change and be at the centre of creating the future.

Nigel Miller, Stagehall farm, Stow