FARMERS' chance to access stopgap loans from the Scottish Government ends tomorrow, Friday January 20.

The National Basic Payment Support Scheme was introduced to maintain the industry's cashflow late last year while the troubled ScotGov computer system caught up with its backlog of official farm support payments.

But the Government announced this week that, having performed that bridging function, the loan scheme was being closed so that resources could be focused on processing 2016 Basic Payment and Greening applications.

NFU Scotland’s director of policy, Jonnie Hall said: “At the recommendation of NFUS, Scottish Government progressed with a loan scheme that, since November, has provided a hugely valuable and welcome injection of cash into Scotland’s rural economy at a time when the capability of the IT system to deliver CAP payments remains compromised.

“Its closure this Friday is with the stated intention of allowing Scottish Government to focus on completing the processing of 2016 Basic Payment Scheme and Greening claims. While we welcome resources being focussed on processing claims, industry would also appreciate a clear statement on when that process will be completed," said Mr Hall.

“For those who have taken up the loan scheme, it would give them a realistic expectation of when the balance payments – worth approximately 20% of their claim – will be made.

“More importantly, a significant number of Scottish farmers chose, for whatever reason, not to take up the loan. For them, the full value of their BPS and Greening payment is outstanding, making a clear timetable invaluable to their business.”