Scots Overshoot Fall

ARABLE area overshoot in Scotland is estimated at 2.9% this year, the Scottish Executive announced this week.

Total payments to arable farmers, including agrimonetary compensation for the introduction of the k in 1999, will be 122m, 14m less than last year. Most producers will be paid between Nov 16 and Jan 31, the executive said.

This is the first year when the less favoured area (LFA) and non-LFA base areas have been combined to establish a single overshoot figure for Scotland. Ross Finnie, Scotlands rural affairs minister, said that move was worth an extra 1.5m to producers this year.

In 1999, the overshoot figure in non-LFAs was 6.75%, and it exceeded 7% in the two previous years. LFA production was consistently below its base, hence the overall benefit from combining the two.

The executive will announce final payment rates when the overshoot is confirmed. But, based on a 2.9% overshoot, payments (exclusive of 1999 agrimonetary compensation) will be cereals 186.6/ha for LFA, 203.09 for non-LFA; oilseeds 280.73/ha LFA, 305.52 non-LFA; set-aside 186.61/ha LFA, 203.09 non-LFA.