BPS cash worth £62.5m sent to farmers in Wales

Welsh farms will receive a share of £62.5m as Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) cash arrives in bank accounts today (Friday 9 December).

Rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths said payments were being made to more than 14,400 farm businesses across Wales, which is 90% of claimants.

This is in addition to the £161m BPS advance payments made in October.

See also: BPS cash arrives for farmers in England, but cut by 20%

“I am pleased we are yet again making an impressive number of BPS payments to farms throughout Wales at the beginning of the payment window,” Ms Griffiths said.

“We are living in challenging economic times and these payments provide some financial certainty to farm businesses.

“I want to thank both the sector and Rural Payments Wales, which have once again worked closely to deliver the excellent number of BPS payments.”

Farmers have been reminded to remain vigilant against fraud. Neither banks nor Rural Payments Wales will ever ask you to reveal your online password, PIN or bank account details, or ask you to make a payment over the telephone.

Scots emergency fund

Meanwhile, the Scottish government has launched an emergency fund worth £1.4m to support island communities struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

The money is being allocated to the six island local authorities (Argyll and Bute, Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar, North Ayrshire, Orkney and Shetland).

Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Islands already experience higher costs of living, with some estimates about 20-65% higher than the UK average, with higher fuel costs, a colder climate and the lack of consumer choice intensifying the effect of the cost crisis on islanders.

“This fund was developed to enable local authorities to take urgent action in helping mitigate the effects of the cost-of-living crisis on households.”