£6m weather aid package unveiled

Details emerged from the Scottish Government on who would be eligible for the £6 million of weather aid cash with sheep, cattle and arable farmers all being eligible to apply for funding.

Sheep producers who have lost 10 per cent or more of breeding ewes or lambs put to the ram or who will have over 20 per cent fewer lambs reared this year from equivalent breeding stock numbers can apply.

As can cattle producers who have lost 5 per cent or more per cent of their breeding livestock or those who will have more than 10 per cent fewer calves reared this year from equivalent breeding stock numbers.

For arable farmers, the criteria for application is if they have had to re-sow 20 per cent of an arable crop and like, the livestock producers, they will be able to pick up an application form on the Scottish Government website from 3 June. For those with no web access, the advice is to contact their area office.

Applications will be permitted up until 5 July with the Weather Aid group meeting at the end of that month to review the applications and finalise the level of support for individual producers. Support payments will then be processed from 1 August.

Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead said the Scottish Government had acted swiftly to provide assistance and the £6m package would be available to those hardest hit.

“It was important that the group examined the situation fully to come up with a scheme to distribute this much needed financial help,” he said.