Rural Payments and Services

Farmers and crofters will begin to receive their Common Agricultural Policy 2019 payments early in the New Year.

Pillar One payments will start in February – earlier than the payments for 2018. Pillar Two payments will begin in April.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“With Scotland on the verge of being removed from the EU against our wishes, it has never been more important to provide farmers and crofters with clarity and certainty over payments. That is why I am publishing a timetable outlining when they can expect to receive their 2019 CAP payments.

“We have taken a number of steps to ensure that adequate funding is available. Eligible farmers and crofters have received more than £340 million through the National Basic Payment Support loan scheme, which paid up to 95% of individual payments from October.

“We have also issued more than 10,000 National Less Favoured Areas Support loan offers, worth £42.5 million, with payments starting before the end of January for those who return their acceptance confirmation.

“I am determined that we will continue to demonstrate the stability of our payment system and enable farmers and crofters to plan ahead with confidence.”

The first tranche of convergence payments, totalling £90 million, will be paid before the end of March.

* 95.24% is the requirement set out in European Commission legislation.

Payment timetable

Scheme	Payments commence	95.24% of total value of payments made*
Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) / Greening / Young Farmer	February 2020	June 2020
Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS)	April 2020	June 2020
Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS)	May 2020	June 2020
Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS)	April 2020	June 2020
Rural Priorities	April 2020	June 2020
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)	April 2020	June 2020
Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS)	April 2020	June 2020
Beef Efficiency Scheme (BES)	June 2020	June 2020