Reminder to hill producers on Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme

A vital new scheme to support sheep producers in Scotland’s hills and uplands will close for applications on Friday (16 October).

An estimated 3500 to 4000 hill farmers and crofters, keeping breeding flocks on some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged land, are eligible to apply to the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) – a fund worth €8 million (approx. £6.1 million).

The coupled support scheme is for home-bred ewe hoggs.  Payments rates will depend on the number of ewe hoggs claimed.  However, Scottish Government has estimated that it could be worth €100 per ewe hogg – a lifeline payment for hill farmers and crofters at a time when market returns and basic support levels are falling. To claim under SUSSS, applications – either on line or on paper – must be submitted by Friday 16 October.  

Payments under SUSSS are expected after April but NFU Scotland thinks delays are likely.  The Union believes that Scottish Government will not deliver the main CAP scheme, the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), in its normal December window.  It has called on Scottish Government to come clean over the timing and value of BPS as significant delays on the main scheme could have an impact on when SUSSS may be delivered.

NFU Scotland’s President Allan Bowie said: “This is an important new scheme that could help underpin returns to Scotland’s hill farmers and crofters and I urge all potential claimants to make sure they get their claims in before the Friday deadline.

 “At €8 million, this scheme is one of the key ways of ensuring that CAP direct payments are best targeted at those who actively farm.   Facing a lower Basic Payment on Region 3 land, an upland sheep scheme helps to ensure that we use our limited budget to best effect. Crucially, by targeting it at ewe hoggs, it has been designed so that it funds are only for those who keep regular breeding flocks on our most disadvantage land.

“It is vital that eligible farmers and crofters make the most of this scheme as it will be an increasingly important top up to the basic direct funding available to their business.  But when farmers will receive their SUSSS payments is unclear.

“The fact of the matter is that, at this moment in time, no Scottish farmer or crofter knows when they will get their basic support payments and what the value of their entitlement will be.  

“With no likelihood of Scottish Government delivering the new Basic Payment Scheme in December, we have called on Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead to come clean on the payment timetable; inform farm businesses of what value will be attached to their entitlements and deliver part payment in December to mitigate the cash flow problems farm businesses will experience because payments are going to be delayed.

“Only once the button has been pushed on basic support payments will we be clearer on when hill farmers and crofters can expect to receive ewe hogg payments.”

Notes for Editors

• The Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) gives direct support to help maintain sheep flocks on farms and crofts that are reliant on poorer quality rough grazing. It will be managed by SGRPID.
• Scheme Outline
  • Eligible businesses are those with 80 per cent or more Payment Region 3 land and less than 200 hectares of Payment Region 1 land
  • Eligible animals have to be homebred ewe hoggs of any breed that are less than 12 months old at the start of the retention period
  • Claiming businesses must maintain a flock register and keep it up to date. In addition, claiming businesses must comply with the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) (Scotland) Order 2009
  • Claims will be limited to four hectares of Region 3 land per ewe hogg claimed
  • To apply, the business must first submit a Single Application Form (SAF) for the same year
  • The application period runs from 1 September to 16 October each year
  • Application forms to be submitted either online or by post, and to include detail of each eligible ewe hogg’s identification number
  • Eligible animals must be retained on the holding (including away winterings) from 17 October in the year of claim to 31 March in the following year
  • Dead, lost or sold claimed animals must be withdrawn within 10 days of becoming aware.  An entire claim or individual animals can be withdrawn at any time, but not if SGRPID have notified an inspection, or have notified of any errors in a claim
  • Payments are due in April, after the end of the retention period
• Members can log in to the NFUS website at www.nfus.org.uk and read Business Guide 30 for more on the scheme or go to: https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/scottish-upland-sheep-support-scheme/

Ends

Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006