Farmers urged to take up BPS loan

RURAL Economy Secretary Secretary Fergus Ewing has announced that the 2017 BPS loan scheme will close on February 9 and has encouraged farmers who haven’t yet applied to do so to ensure they get the loan they are entitled to.

The announcement was welcomed by NFU Scotland.

Mr Ewing said: ‘My priority is and will continue to be to protect and grow the rural economy. That is why, in September, I announced a loan scheme for Basic Payments 2017, and I am pleased that more than 13,000 farmers and crofters have so far taken up that offer.

‘This has injected more than £300 million into the rural economy, earlier than ever before, helping to safeguard jobs and investment.

‘However, I am conscious that some farmers and crofters have yet to take up the offer of a loan. Those who wish to do so have until February 9 to confirm they wish to accept the offer that has been made to them. With two weeks until the scheme closes, I would therefore encourage all farmers and crofters, who are yet to accept the offer of a loan, to do so as soon as possible.

‘This is their money. It does not take anything away from the NHS or other public services. Its theirs, they deserve it and they should have it.’

NFU Scotland director of policy Jonnie Hall said: ‘In what has been a very challenging year for many farmers and crofters, the £311 million already injected in to the rural economy through the current loan payment scheme will have been invaluable and accounts for more than 75 percent of the expected BPS and Greening pot.

‘While more than 13,000 have taken up the loan, it is a surprise and a concern that so many have not. Many of the 4,500 who have declined the loan or not yet opted in are likely to be smaller farmers but, with the deadline of February 9 now set, it may be appropriate for them to reconsider their decision.

‘The winter weather, and the difficulties many have experienced in making and sourcing fodder and bedding, means hill farmers and crofters will be keen to see Scottish Government build on its speedy delivery of the BPS and Greening loan scheme by meeting its timetable for delivering Less Favoured Areas support and coupled payments for beef calves and hill ewe hoggs in April and May.

‘For those farming in Scotland’s LFA, these payments are often more important financially to the unit than BPS and Greening and those payment are still several months away.’