Scottish farmers will be able to draw down their National Basic Payment Support Scheme payments through a loan once again. The announcement from Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing will see £340m injected into the rural economy from September.

The loan scheme provides Scottish farmers and crofters access of up to 95% of their 2020 CAP BPS and Greening payment, restricted to the scheme maximum of £133,638. Loan offer letters will be sent to eligible farmers and crofters from the beginning of August, with the first payments due the following month.

The last six months have seen a drop of 1,031 dairy cows, and a the loss of 17 dairy farms in Scotland, industry figures show. It leaves the total number of dairy units at 862, with a national herd of 177,459. Herd size is up by three to average 206 cows.

The south west corner from Glasgow to Dumfries and into Stranraer accounts for 77% of all the dairy cattle in the Scotland.