Rural Payments and Services

Payments worth £38 million to Scottish beef producers will arrive in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming weeks.

The Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme supports around 7,000 specialist beef producers breeding beef calves from suckler cows.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“Having seen first-hand the significant impact that the prolonged wet weather has had on farmers, I can confirm that payments under the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme will land in farmers’ banks accounts in the coming weeks – earlier than previously proposed.

“We have worked hard to get these vital payments out earlier than expected in order to aid our suckler herds, which form the backbone of quality beef production in Scotland and provide environmental benefits in fragile areas.

“Payments of £99 per mainland animal and £144 per island animal will aid farmers cash flow, providing a welcome boost to the rural economy while also helping to support farmers who are producing the quality meat products that Scotland is renowned for globally.”

Background

The 2017 payment rates are €111.20 (£99.49) per animal for SSBSS Mainland and €161.20 (£144.22) per animal for SSBSS Island. Under the 2016 scheme the payment rates were €108.00 (£92.05) and €165.10 (£140.71).

Payments totalling €42.2M (£37.7M) are issuing to 6,485 businesses from Wednesday 2 May. This represents 95% of the payments made to over 95% of eligible claimants.