NFU Scotland is reminding Scottish hill sheep farmers that the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) opens for applications tomorrow (Friday, September 1st) and closes on October 16th.

The scheme, worth around £6m, is designed to assist active hill farmers and crofters through a payment coupled to the number of ewe hoggs they keep as breeding replacements for their flocks.

The Union has expressed disappointment that, for the second year running there are to be no improvements to the scheme rules. NFUS, and other organisations, had requested changes to SUSSS this year. Now into its third year, industry representatives claim the Scheme continues to cause difficulties for those most reliant on these payments as a major part of their direct support payments. The Union's budget-neutral proposals would have seen changes to application periods, retention periods and targeting of payments.

* Meanwhile First Milk, the UK's only major dairy company 100 per cent owned by British farmers, has confirmed that its Scottish pool price will rise by 1.1p per litre to 27.49p from tomorrow (Friday, September 1st).

Last month the farmer co-operative, that is headquartered in Glasgow, wrote to their members detailing plans to discontinue A&B pricing and individual transport charges, plus introduce a Production Bonus. These changes, which are aimed at incentivising milk production to meet growing customer demand, will also be introduced from tomorrow.

First Milk chairman Clive Sharpe said: "Many members met our new CEO Shelagh Hancock at farm road-shows across the UK earlier this month. At these meetings she detailed the strong platform that we have in place, as well as further opportunities to improve productivity within the business."

Market round-up

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 16 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of £1444.60 per head and 240p per kg to average £1210.02 and 221.4p, while 4 prime bullocks peaked at £1253.50 and 218p to level at £1127.71 and 191.5p.

In the rough ring 77 beef cows sold to £1220 and 171.9p to average 132.1p, while 117 dairy cows peaked at £1080 and 146.6p to level at 108.2p.

There was a much larger show of 20 dairy cattle when all types were harder to cash on the week. Top price on the day was £1900 for a freshly-calved Holstein Friesian heifer with the final average levelling at £1299.

C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 4864 store lambs and feeding ewes forward in Longtown on Tuesday. Top prices and averages for selected breeds of store lambs: Texels to £80 and averaged £56.21 (-£2.25 on the week); Suffolks £60.50 and £52.26 (-£10.66); Mules £62.50 and £54.38 (+52p).