No-deal Brexit plan for breeding ewe headage payments given lukewarm reception

“There are some particular issues there, because there are people who will be finishing the product who will be adversely affected.”

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker told Farmers Guardian the plan suggested Ministers were planning no more than a ‘catastrophe payout’, when they should be looking at a strategic scheme to tide farmers over for a longer period of time.

“If the payment was based on ewe numbers then finishers may be penalised, but a set sum on ewe headage is not equitable across the board either, as flocks have different cost and productivity levels,” he said.

“The best approach could be to accept sheep farmers should receive the average market price, based on reference years, with a make-up payment between the actual price and the reference year price.

Support

“This would mean if the market functioned well there would be no need for any Government support. You would expect if the finished lamb price was guaranteed then the breeders of store lambs should not be affected.”

Mr Stocker also warned if the no-deal scheme was not formally announced and publicised ahead of time it would fail.

“If confusion reigned and prices fell and you gave the money to the finishers it would not work,” he said.

“This is where advance planning should come in, and no one could say there has not been time for that.”