Coupled payments to Scottish upland sheep farmers start to roll

Upland sheep producers are to receive payments of £61.25 a head for ewes claimed under the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS), the Scottish government has confirmed.

Payments to hill farmers and crofters who claimed in 2022 have commenced on schedule, worth more than £7m to some 1,134 farmers and crofters.

See also: ‘Pitiful’ policy in Scotland forcing farmers to scale back

The payment is based on claims for 115,886 animals, and compares with £61.65 a head for 2021 and £59.80 a head for 2020, when the sterling:euro exchange rate was still a factor.

The rollout of funds has been welcomed by NFU Scotland LFA chairman Peter Kennedy, who said the support was “vital in a year when every penny counts”.

“This support is not only important for farmers and crofters producing a fantastic product from some of the toughest farmland, but also to the local communities that see a huge amount of reinvestment from these businesses,” he said.

“It underlines the importance of headage schemes and the value they deliver, as we start to transition towards new support arrangements for farmers and crofters in the future.”

The Scottish government has recently revealed its Agricultural Reform Route Map, setting out the timeframe as it develops a new farm support policy and wider land management to take effect from 2025.

It’s previous Vision For Agriculture, set out in March 2022, retains at least some elements of direct support payments to farmers, as well as some so-called “coupled” supports linked to production levels – though there are likely to be stricter environmental conditions attached.