Lambing and other spring jobs offer thought for future
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From the Croft by Russell Smith
April already and as expected it brings lambing, mixed weather, IACS (Integrated Administration and Control System), and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) inspections.
What was not expected was the consistent snow, overnight (and some daytime) frosts. Who would have thought we would be lambing at the same time as my daughter was snowboarding on the croft?
Have we got too complacent over the recent mild winters? We just about made the hay last, we are down to the last bale. Grass is maybe two weeks behind last year, the mud is well ahead of last year.
We will do the Single Application Form online again – it isn’t too bad once you get the hang of it, though I did have problems the first year.
The whole procedure, though, is a real problem if you don’t have decent broadband and impossible if you don’t have the computer or skills to log on. The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) keep stressing to Scottish Government that not everybody can or wants to go online. The Rural Payments website says: “If you require a paper copy of the Single Application Form, you can pick up a copy at your local area office” and later continues:
“Our offices will be happy to print blank forms and post them to you if you can’t meet the requirements” (to print out your own forms).
But this sounds like you would have to fill in field numbers and this is a long and involved process with lots of scope for copying field identifiers wrongly. So there isn’t an easy answer but the local offices can help if you speak to them. Of course they are not actually in the office but they have been good at following up on enquiries.
If you are having problems, don’t leave it to the last minute. The closing date is May 17.
We had our QMS inspection recently – they wanted to conduct part of it outside over a smart phone in a gale and driving rain. Not very practical but we managed to get through the business.
The SCF made lots of representations last year about the new rule that you should have a visit from a vet every year – not appropriate for crofts where it is a matter of pride to be able to do most stuff yourself (as well as being financially advantageous).
It should be enough that you are registered with a vet and have regular contact.
There was a good land managers’ option where you were paid to sit down with the vet once a year to review your health plan and make improvements. That scheme probably set many of us off on a better path for very little cost to the government. The climate change mantra now is to do more with less, so we need something similar now.
Lambing as always throws up some unpredictable facet – this year we seem to have more gimmers lambing early on. Were they in better condition in the autumn? Something to ponder.
SCF had its hustings last month – candidates (as you would expect) all thought crofting was a good idea and should be supported. Interesting though was that all representatives (including the Conservative) believed that Scottish agriculture policy should be decided in Scotland – notwithstanding the UK government’s Internal Market Bill.
Russell Smith is a Bonar Bridge crofter and director of the Scottish Crofting Federation.
