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National Sheep Association policy manager Emma Owen said it was important to have ‘some standardisation across the carcase classification process and reporting, bringing the sector in line with the licencing requirements of beef'

NFU Scotland vice president Andrew Connon said: "Any changes to this area of the hard-won milk contract legislation have the potential undermine a crucial cornerstone of the regulations around pricing and exclusivity and act against the best interests of dairy farmers"

"By sidelining our farmers, we risk jeopardising both our food supply and the rural economy"

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the union's response covers ‘some of the benefits' which farm assurance schemes provides, but it also covers the ‘inescapable issues' that must be addressed

Ten dairy farmers in Dumfries and Galloway and two in Ayrshire have been given 12 months' notice

"I foresee years of friction if this goes ahead"

Wet weather has hampered combining as farmers face looming storage worries

Scottish Government has made a commitment to support the scheme until 2026

"We are seeking views, in a variety of ways, across the UK agri-food industry, but this is your chance to tell us your experiences of farm assurance so that we hear directly from the farming community".

The Scottish Dairy Cattle Association recently released its six-monthly figures for dairy herds and dairy cows in Scotland in 2024, which revealed a net decrease of 21 dairy herds – 2.6% – within Scotland to 773