Scotland Sheep Payments

Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, has confirmed payments under the new Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) will be paid during the early part of August.  The payment is worth €78.12 per ewe hogg.  This is less than was expected (€100) as the set funding (£8m) is divided by the number of eligible animals, which in the first year of the scheme has been more thanexpected  at approximately 101,000 head – claimants have obviously increased their flocks.

This is a new scheme which is only available to those farmers and crofters that farm in the remoter areas of Scotland.  To be eligible 80% of their land must be in Region 3 under the Basic Payment Scheme, defined as the least productive rough grazing land in the LFASS grazing category A.  In addition they must have less than 200ha of land in Region 1 (better land).