Rural Payments and Services

The deadline for applying to the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme will be extended until 30 November 2017.

The support scheme is targeted at sheep production on the poorest quality land to help farmers maintain the social and environmental benefits that sheep flocks bring to those areas.

Announcing the extension, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“Having listened to farmers, and being conscious of the poor weather conditions that have hampered farmers ability to gather flocks off the hills and draw their future breeding stock, I have decided to extend the application window for applying to the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme
until the 30th November."

"Despite this extension, I would urge all farmers who wish to do so to submit their applications online as soon as possible and not wait until the last moment.

"“Our sheep sector contributes more than £200 million a year to the rural economy, so it is only right that we offer them as much support and flexibility as possible within the confines of EU legislation.”