Badenoch MSP welcomes farming sector financial support

Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes has welcomed confirmation from the Scottish Government that loans have been offered to hill and upland farmers and crofters to provide them with financial support and certainty in the New Year.

Under the national Less Favoured Areas Support Loan Scheme (LFASS) 2019, eligible farmers and crofters will be offered up to 95 per cent of their Common Agricultural Policy LFASS payment from January.

A similar scheme in 2018 delivered payments worth more than £52 million to over 8,000 hill farmers and crofters.

Ms Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: “At a time of uncertainty and difficulty, it is important that crofters and hill farmers in the Highlands get as much support as possible.

“This loan scheme allows LFASS payments to be made as quickly as possible in the New Year, at the height of the winter months.

“Margins are tight, the weather is miserable and the future of agriculture hangs in the balance as Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the EU is still unknown. I’d encourage any eligible crofters to apply.”

Loan offers will issue in batches when claim eligibility can be confirmed.

The initial batch of loan offers will be made to more than 10,000 farmers and crofters, and the Scottish Government will continue to make additional loan offers as claim eligibility is confirmed.

LFASS loan payments will be made from mid-January to anyone who returns their loan offer acceptance by 17 January 2020.

For more information visit https://www.gov.scot/news/less-favoured-area-support/

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