Farmers to get share of £160m funding

Perth and Kinross farmers and crofters will benefit from £160 million of backdated funding for the agriculture sector.

The funding is the first tranche of EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding which was meant to increase support levels in Scotland, but was instead previously distributed across the UK.

The chancellor agreed in September to finally hand over the funds but said it is at the Scottish Government’s discretion to decide how it is distributed.

All basic payments will be topped up, but those with the largest amount of “less favoured” land will receive the most.

The initial £80m will be distributed to support active farming, with a focus on those who farm in marginal uplands, hill farms and island areas.

John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, said: “This is money that was hard fought for over many years, and I am delighted for farmers in Perthshire that the £160m of convergence money that the UK Government tried to appropriate from Scotland has been returned.

“Scottish farmers have been shortchanged for years, and the SNP has argued long and hard for that injustice to be addressed.

“This funding will play a vital role in helping us meet our agricultural commitments, and will make a crucial difference to the future viability of Scotland’s farming industry.

“Whilst Brexit remains a massive threat to Scotland’s farming and crofting communities, this funding will help to provide some security to Perthshire farmers during these uncertain times.

“With future arrangements for agriculture still unclear amidst the turmoil of Brexit, it is absolutely vital that Perthshire agriculture benefits from the EU support to which the sector is entitled, while it still can.”