Extra support for active hill farmers is welcomed

NFU Scotland yesterday welcomed plans by the Scottish Government to give more support to those actively farming in the hills and remote areas of the country. The union had been the main architect behind the more targeted support.

For some farmers, the decision means that payments will go up by 38 per cent next year, provided the European Union approves the changes, which will see between 5 million and 10m of cash redistributed to the more productive farms in the hills.

In addition, hill sheep farmers will benefit through the introduction of a new Land Management Option specifically for new sheep handling facilities. This fund could provide farms with an extra 1,500 each year.

For those with some arable land, another Land Management Option is being introduced to help farmers protect important wildlife, thus offsetting the recent loss of set-aside obligations.

However, there was little cheer for the dairy sector, with no support going outwith the current Southern and Northern Milk Quota Ring Fence Areas.

But new entrants fare better, being allowed access through a new grazing category which will be offered for land not currently designated, so new claimants can get Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) funding.

According to rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead, the decisions were taken to ensure the hill farming sector remained sustainable for future generations.

He said: "We have been working closely with key stakeholders on the changes being announced today and I am happy to be able to announce a redistribution of funding."

Responding to the news, NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren said he believed the Less Favoured Area scheme recognised the vital role played by active livestock production which he believes is fundamental to the health of Scotland's uplands.

He said: "With today's announcement, and the announcement made last June, it is clear that the Scottish Government shares that belief (in production on hill farms].

"In the last few weeks, we submitted proposals to the Scottish Government on how we thought delivery of the funding available through LFASS could be changed to better recognise the contribution made by those producing stock across the whole of Scotland's LFA area."

The proposals were also welcomed by John Scott MSP, the Conservatives' rural affairs spokesman. He said the party had long campaigned for such changes, adding: "With food security issues at the top of the political agenda and recognition in the EU that these issues must be addressed, it is clear active farming must be the active ingredient in any future LFA scheme."

The changes were triggered by the union requesting that the government model a number of possible variable minimum stocking density options. As a result of this analysis, it was possible to transfer funds to LFASS recipients in the standard area, while retaining the existing payment rate increases for the fragile and very fragile areas.