Start of less favoured area payments

16th March 2013

Payments from the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme will start to arrive in bank accounts from Friday, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead confirmed earlier this week.

The Scottish Government has now authorised payment of 10,190 claims to farmers and crofters working in some of the most challenging conditions in Europe, worth �56 million � around 86 per cent of the total �65.5 funding for the scheme.

Mr Lochhead said:�Poor weather and rising costs have combined to make these challenging times for Scotland�s farmers and crofters - that�s even more true for those working in areas of natural disadvantage

�I am sure this start to payments under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme � on the same day as last year - will be welcomed as it will inject badly needed funds into our rural communities.

�Officials will continue to work hard to ensure the remaining payments are made as quickly as possible as we recognise that support payments such as LFASS and Single Farm Payment provide vital cash for many of Scotland�s farm businesses.�

The Less Favoured Areas in Scotland represent about 85 per cent of the agricultural area. In England, the same land category only accounts for around 15 per cent of the agricultural area.

Less Favoured Area Support Scheme at -
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/SRDP/LFASS