THERE WAS another apology from the Scottish Government this week over payment delays – the last thing Scottish farmers want to hear with their bills stacking up.

A government spokesperson told The Scottish Farmer: “We regret the extensive delay with regard to 2015 LFAS payments and know that this has caused considerable inconvenience to farmers and crofters. While we have made 85% of payments more work is required to the IT system to allow us to complete 2015 payments.

“We are continuing to work hard to resolve the ongoing issues and hope to be able to complete 2015 payments in April and proceed on the 2016 payment front."

NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick said: “Farmers want to know when the IT problems are sorted. This payment system has now been in place for more than two years yet issues continue to exist.

“Over the past few weeks, the NFUS officeholder team have attended more than 20 branch and regional meetings around Scotland and it is crystal clear that the ongoing delays in Scottish Government delivering outstanding support payments are causing genuine concern and placing unnecessary strain on farm businesses.

“In addition, the volume of calls that officeholders and staff are fielding, asking when Basic Payment Scheme balance payments and LFA support will be delivered is growing daily," said Mr McCornick. “The agricultural industry, and the wider rural economy, deserve to know when these payments will arrive.

“Running a farm business is difficult enough without feeling that the support system which is meant to be there to help them is conspiring to make things as difficult as possible.”

NSA Scotland chairman John Fyall commented: “In the short time since I have taken this role, many producers have contacted me with regard to 2015 LFASS claims yet to be settled.

“Several farmers have been told to expect 2016 LFASS no sooner than late June and for many this will create circumstances where difficult choices on expenditure will have to be made at an already stressful time of year. There will also be implications on the ewe hogg and rural development schemes which will also be crucial for some," said Mr Fyall.

“We urgently need to look beyond the ‘computer’ and get guarantees and plans to protect the most fragile farming in areas in Scotland if we are to give folk some faith so that the upland stock and the communities they support do not slip away further."