Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is in line for a £1.4m increase in funding in 2020, according to chief executive Alan Clarke. The cash boost comes after a final agreement on the ‘lost levy’ issue (on animals reared in Scotland and killed in England) looks set to reach a conclusion. Currently, the levy is collected at the point of slaughter, so the payment for Scottish-reared animals killed in England goes to the AHDB.

Changes to the collection rules within the Westminster Agricultural Bill will see a proportion of the levy returning to the country which reared the animal. This is estimated to be worth £1.4m to the Scottish sector.

The Scottish levy body will then be able to decide how the money is spent. Preparations for a no-deal Brexit have meant QMS is putting aside £150,000 to support the industry if EU trade is cut.

It’s also doing promotional work to highlight the high welfare standards involved in shearing Scottish sheep, in response to negative campaigning during the clipping season.

This year’s lamb campaign resulted in a 27% increase in spending per buyer, with a 20% increase in volume. The pork campaign saw a 17% increase in spending, with a 21% rise in volume purchased.

The current round of QMS monitor farms will be coming to a conclusion in 2019.

QMS plans to continue working in the area, but Alan Clarke is keen to pilot different knowledge transfer programmes in 2020, including more monitor farms, to ensure effective spending.