Christmas has come early for 16,700 Scottish farmers and crofters who will receive their Single Farm Payments today, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed.
The payment run means a pre-Christmas boost to Scotland’s rural economy of around £328million, with a total of 91% of farmers and crofters receiving a share – exceeding the delivery target of paying 70% 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% 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 £328million 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.”
In this first payment run, around 16,700 farmers and crofters have been paid a total of approximately £328million in Single Farm Payments. That compares to around 15,500 who were paid at the same time in 2013.
The European regulations fix a payment window that means payments can be made between December 1, and June 30, in the following year.
Payments are being issued to producers who have successfully passed the Scottish Government’s eligibility checks. Because of European Commission conditions attached to payments, farmers and crofters who have outstanding inspections or other eligibility issues cannot be paid until these have been resolved.
The payments farmers will receive are net of a reduction for the European Commission’s financial discipline mechanism and the transfer of funds to rural development measures – usually called “flexibility”.
Scottish farmers who are registered for Rural Payments Online can apply for the Scottish Beef Scheme online and access payment information up to seven days in advance of it going into their bank accounts. Signing up for Rural Payments Online also allows claimants to apply online, with 24 hour access, instant receipts and dedicated helpdesk support.
Applications for the Scottish Beef Scheme can be submitted online or on paper via local area offices. Farmers applying for the Scottish Beef Scheme are being reminded to check that the animals being claimed for have not been the subject of previous claims.