Rural Payments and Services

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 1/12/14

Christmas cheer for more than 16,000 Scottish farmers.

Christmas has come early for 16,700 Scottish farmers and crofters who will receive their Single Farm Payments today (Monday, December 1), Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed.

The payment run means a pre-Christmas boost to Scotland’s rural economy of around £328 million, with a total of 91 per cent of farmers and crofters receiving a share – exceeding the delivery target of paying 70 per cent of claims within 15 days of the opening of the payment window (from December 1).

Mr Lochhead said:

“I am delighted to confirm that 91 per cent of farmers and crofters will receive their Single Farm Payments today, well ahead of Christmas.

“This support is vital for farmers, but with every £1 of output from the agricultural sector generating an additional 80p in other parts of the Scottish economy the £328 million paid out today is clearly a welcome festive boost for all of Scotland.

“The Scottish Government has a strong track record in making early Single Farm Payments in full, and I am pleased to say that we are doing even better than we did at the same time last year. In fact, this is the best we have ever done.

“Our focus now is to try to ensure as many payments as possible are processed before December 31, which is six months ahead of the European Union deadline. Producers can help us to settle their claims by responding promptly to any queries they may receive from Scottish Government officials.”