Farmers are being encouraged to apply for early payment of National Basic Payment Support Scheme (NBPSS) made available by the Scottish Government help to mitigate impacts of adverse weather. Farmers and crofters will be sent out loan offers in tranches beginning at the start of September. Those wishing to receive up to 90% of the value of entitlements early are encouraged to return the forms as swiftly as possible to ensure prompt payments.

A similar scheme was created in 2017, which delivered payments of more than £317m to over 13,500 farmers.

Announcing the scheme, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “We understand that many of them have really suffered this year due to the unprecedented severe weather experienced in 2018.

“The Scottish Government is of course committed to supporting our farmers and has responded by taking decisive action to make this extra funding stream available.

“We will be issuing loan offers shortly, providing a much-needed cash injection for those feeling the effects of increased prices for feed and fodder, the impact of restraints on irrigating their land and in some cases, resorting to selling livestock earlier than planned to preserve fodder for breeding stocks.

“I have also asked the Agriculture Weather Advisory Panel to consider what other actions may be helpful in response to the recent dry weather.

“The panel met last week and will be issuing advice, focused on the continuing need for farmers to plan ahead and collaborate effectively across the industry.”

The announcement was made on Gryffewraes farm at Bridge of Weir in Renfrewshire, farmed by NFU Scotland’s regional chair for Forth and Clyde Region Willie Harper.

In a normal year, Mr Harper makes 2,000 bales of silage to feed to his cattle over winter but this year only 1,000 have been made.

Planning ahead, he has, for the first time, sown a hybrid kale into stubble to provide a winter forage for cows. He has also bought fertiliser to spread on grassland in September – again a first - in a bid to extend the grazing season for his stock.

Mr Harper said: “Although my silage stocks are 50% compared to a normal year, I know from speaking to other farmers around the country that I am the lucky one and many have had to feed their silage to livestock this summer just to keep their animals going.

“I have put plans in place that will hopefully extend my grazing but that has come at a cost of close to five figures. News that the loan scheme money will come through in October will help address that hole in my cashflow.”

The Union has also sent a letter to the Scottish Government with a number of measures to help the industry, including:

  • Extended derogation of the three-crop rule from the European Commission.
  • Shorten the EFA fallow period so that it runs from 15 April to 15 July.
  • Relax rules that require “Green Manure crops” like clover, peas and oats to be ploughed in after 15 August.

    • Scottish Tenant Farmers Association chair Christopher Nicholson encouraged his members to apply for support. He said: “With Scotland’s tenanted sector concentrated in the more marginal livestock farming areas, we would encourage tenant farmers to opt into the scheme to ensure early receipt of support payments.”

    “Although a most welcome short term fix which will help alleviate the immediate problem of lack of straw and forage for livestock farmers, we would urge the Scottish Government to take a deeper look at the reasons behind the current fodder shortage.

    “In years like this one when cropping and grass yields are low, incentives are required which will minimise the impact on agriculture of valuable animal forage supplies being used to fuel anaerobic digesters and biomass plants.”