Scotish farmers anger at threat of late Less Favoured Area payments

Scottish farmers have reacted angrily to news that delays to 2007 Less Favoured Area payments, worth £61m, may be possible as a result of a hold-up in the approval of the Scottish Rural Development Plan in Europe.

NFU Scotland is seeking urgent clarification from the Scottish Executive after it emerged that approval for Scotland’s plan could be delayed until next autumn, months after farmers would usually receive lifeline LFA payments.

The impact of a block on LFA payments will be severe, said NFUS chief executive Andy Robertson.

“The traditional payment window for LFA support between March and May covers a ‘hungry gap’ for the Scottish farming community,” he said.

“Spring represents a time of significant costs for livestock producers, such as buying in feed, and yet there is little income before livestock sales in the autumn.”