Quarter of farmers have failed to take up government loan offer

Scottish Government figures showing that some £311 million has now been loaned to farmers in lieu of their 2017 basic payments scheme (BPS) and greening cash has taken the sting out of criticism of the poorly functioning computer system.

But the fact that a quarter of all farmers have not accessed this interest-free loan came as a surprise to NFU Scotland’s director of policy Jonnie Hall.

Acknowleding the benefits of the loan system, he said: “In what has been a very challenging year for manyfarmersandcrofters, the £311m already injected in to the rural economy through the current loan payment scheme will have been invaluable and accounts for more than 75 per cent of the expected BPS and greening pot.”

But he queried why others had not also taken advantage of the scheme. “While more than 13,000 have taken up the loan, it is a surprise and a concern that so many have not,” he said. “Many of the 4,500 who have declined the loan or not yet opted in are likely to be smaller farmers, but 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 sticking to its stated 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 these areas], these payments are often more important financially than BPS and greening and the schedule for payment is still months away.”