For many farming businesses, particularly smaller holdings and those facing economic pressures, the cost of fallen stock collection can feel like a significant financial burden. Martland’s Fallen Stock is committed to providing a cost-effective, professional service that makes compliant fallen stock disposal accessible to farming businesses of all sizes. This article provides an overview of the support landscape, explains how to access available schemes, and offers practical advice for managing fallen stock collection costs effectively.
Historical Context – The National Fallen Stock Company
For many years, the fallen stock collection industry in England and Wales was supported by a government-backed subsidy scheme administered through the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo), which allowed farmers to access subsidised collection rates. This scheme significantly reduced the cost of fallen stock collection for participating farmers and helped to establish a culture of compliant disposal across the sector.
The subsidy arrangements have evolved over the years, and farmers should check the current position with Martland’s Fallen Stock and with the relevant devolved agricultural authority for their nation to understand what support, if any, is currently available. The availability and terms of subsidy schemes can change, and Martland’s Fallen Stock can advise on the current position and how it affects the cost of collection for your holding.
Devolved Arrangements Across the UK
Fallen stock collection support arrangements differ across the four nations of the UK. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have historically operated different schemes and levels of support from England, reflecting the different policy priorities and agricultural structures of each nation. Martland’s Fallen Stock operates across multiple UK regions and can advise farmers on the current arrangements relevant to their location.
In addition to national schemes, some industry bodies and agricultural assurance organisations have historically been involved in supporting fallen stock collection arrangements for their members. It is worth discussing with Martland’s Fallen Stock whether any collective or industry-supported arrangements are available that could reduce the cost of collection for your farming business.
Managing Fallen Stock Collection Costs
Whether or not subsidy support is available, there are practical steps that farming businesses can take to manage fallen stock collection costs effectively when working with Martland’s Fallen Stock. Establishing a regular collection schedule – rather than arranging individual collections on an ad hoc basis – can often reduce the per-collection cost, particularly for farms with consistent monthly mortality volumes. Discussing your annual mortality volumes and collection needs with the Martland’s Fallen Stock team may enable a more cost-effective arrangement to be agreed.
For mixed livestock farms generating fallen stock from multiple species, ensuring that collections are consolidated where possible – collecting different species on the same Martland’s Fallen Stock visit – can reduce the overall cost compared to separate collections for each species.
The Cost of Non-Compliance
It is important to keep the cost of Martland’s Fallen Stock collection in perspective by considering the potential costs of non-compliance. Financial penalties for breach of the animal by-product regulations, the cost of remediation if environmental contamination occurs, and the reputational damage that can follow a regulatory enforcement action are all potentially far greater than the cost of maintaining a compliant collection arrangement with Martland’s Fallen Stock.
Fallen stock collection should be viewed not as an optional expense that can be reduced or eliminated when budgets are tight, but as an essential operating cost that protects the farm business from much greater financial and reputational risks. The professional, accessible service provided by Martland’s Fallen Stock means that compliant disposal is achievable for farming businesses of all sizes, and the team is always willing to discuss the most cost-effective collection arrangement for your specific holding.
Here are some of the other regional areas we cover. Click a link below to find out more:
Lancashire Fallen Stock Collection Service
Greater Manchester Fallen Stock Collection Service
Merseyside Fallen Stock Collection Service
Wirral Fallen Stock Collection Service
North Wales Fallen Stock Collection Service
Cheshire Fallen Stock Collection Service
