Improved payment for hill farmers

Nov 27 2009 Dumfries Standard Friday

SCOTLAND’S hill farmers will receive a major cash boost in January, the Scottish Government confirmed this week

A 19 per cent increase in payments under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) will take effect in the new year.

With a further 19 per cent rise in the pipeline for next year, the increases are expected to deliver an additional £15 million to active farmers in remote rural areas.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead said: “Our hill farmers operate in some of the most difficult economic and geographic conditions. Additional funding will be a welcome boost for them, their businesses and the families and communities they support.

“Further improvements to farming payments can be expected in 2010 to ensure support is targeted to where it’s needed most. We are considering further changes to the way LFASS works, along with stakeholders.