'EXCESSIVE' claims by large sheep producers have been stripping cash out of the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme that was not intended for them, the Scottish Crofting Federation has warned.

Broadly agreeing with NFU Scotland's call for changes to the scheme, the SCF has offered its own further suggestions for improvement.

“This is a very significant scheme for crofters,” said SCF vice-chair Yvonne White, “offering a chance to those on Region three rough grazing to make up for their distressingly low basic payments. It has been misused though, with some large producers claiming not only on their replacements but on any number of ewe hoggs, the surplus then being sold off.

"When it is large farms doing this it rapidly uses up the limited budget, depriving others, especially smaller producers, of benefitting from it," said Ms White. "This was not the intention of the scheme and it is appropriate that NFUS have recognised this and are proposing a limit on claims of a set percentage of the breeding flock, equivalent to actual replacements."

Describing the NFUS recommendations as "a step in the right direction", Ms White suggested the eligible percentage of ewe hoggs should be higher because those on Region Three land will likely have more losses, especially due to predation, so payment should reflect a 30% replacement.

“To facilitate those with small numbers or those building up their flocks, such as new entrants," she added, “for those claiming 50 or fewer hoggs, the percentage criteria should not apply."