More than £296 million in agricultural support has been paid to farmers and crofters in Scotland since the start of September through the Scottish Government's Basic Payment Scheme and Greening payments. By 11 September, 81% of the businesses expected to be eligible had received their money; the payment window runs until July next year.

Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said early payment lets farmers and crofters get on with planning the year, which is why the Rural Payments and Inspections Division works to turn applications round quickly. Reaching so many applicants in the first fortnight, he said, showed how seriously the Scottish Government took its commitment to direct support for active farming and food production — in contrast, he argued, to elsewhere in the UK.

The Basic Payment Scheme is Scotland's main area-based support and the Greening element is paid for environmentally friendly practices; together they are the largest single source of public money on most Scottish farms.

This year there is a condition for one group. Claimants who received grants from the £21.4 million Future Farming Investment Scheme must confirm that they met the terms of their award before their Basic Payment and Greening applications can be considered. The deadline for that verification has been extended to 30 September.

Mr Fairlie thanked those who had already submitted their evidence and urged any grant recipient who had not yet done so to file it before the deadline so that their support could be processed.

Source: The Scottish Farmer