Rural Payments and Services

Payments worth £7 million to Scottish sheep producers will arrive in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming weeks.

The Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme is a direct support scheme targeted at sheep production on the poorest quality land to help around 1,044 eligible farmers maintain the social and environmental benefits that sheep flocks bring to those areas.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“With our sheep sector contributing £203 million to the rural economy in 2016, I can confirm that payments under the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme will arrive in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming weeks.

“Payments of £60 per animal will now be made at an earlier point than last year in order to aid farmers cash flow, providing a welcome boost to the rural economy, while also helping to continue to support farmers who are producing the quality meat products that Scotland is renowned for globally.”

Background

Producer must have homebred ewe hoggs, no more than 200 hectares of Payment Region 1
land, and 80 per cent of their holding must consist of land in Payment Region 3.

The payment rate fluctuates each year based on the eligible animals applied for under the scheme.