Scottish new business grants pay out £2.5m
© Cultura/REX/Shuttestock The latest tranche of payments for supporting new entrants to agriculture in Scotland has been paid out, injecting some £2.5m into the sector.
The funding, jointly provided by the Scottish government and the EU through the Young Farmers scheme and the New Entrants Start-up Grant scheme, will be shared by 47 new farmers to help them create and develop their businesses.
See also: A beginner’s guide to careers in agriculture and farming
The grants, which form part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), can be used to buy land, equipment and livestock.
Age profile
The average age of Scottish farmers is currently 58, with over a third being 65 years or over. Meanwhile, the number aged 40 and under has dropped to just 9%. Announcing the funding, Scottish rural affairs secretary Fergus Ewing said attracting new entrants to farming was “vital” for the sustainability of the industry while also driving innovation and best practice.
He added: “It is crucial that we encourage a steady inflow of young and new entrants into the sector.
“That is why I am delighted to announce an additional £2.5m in grant funding to help and develop new entrants.
“This brings the total funding from EU and Scottish government to more than £9m, supporting the development and creation of almost 180 new farms across Scotland.”
The next round for both schemes opened for applications on 1 April and will close on 30 September.
Response
Mark Donald, NFU Scotland’s new generation chairman welcomed the funding saying it was a “much-needed financial injection to help kick start fledgling farming businesses”.
“Another tranche of new entrants to Scottish agriculture can now plan ahead with a greater degree of certainty and confidence. This announcement also underlines the real value which this grant scheme continues to generate.
“While NFUS realises there are still many challenges faced by new generation businesses, we welcome the input from the Scottish government to try and alleviate some of the stresses and hardships.”
Two schemes defined
- The Young Farmer scheme is open to those younger than 41 who are setting up as the head of a holding for the first time, with grants of about £58,000 available (depending on the exchange rate).
- The New Entrant scheme is for those who have been involved in an agricultural business for less than a year, with grants of about £12,500 available.