PAYMENTS WORTH £254 million will arrive in farmers’ and crofters’ bank accounts this week, Rural Economy secretary Fergus Ewing has confirmed.

The national CAP Basic Payment Support loan scheme was unveiled last month as part of the Scottish Government’s 'CAP stabilisation plan', offering farmers and crofters up to 90% of their farm support entitlement as an advance on the actual payment, which will come later, as the sluggish ScotGov computer system works through compliance with the rules of the EU's new area-based farm support regime.

Mr Ewing said: “I can confirm that the first tranche of Basic Payment Support loan payments will arrive in farmers and crofters bank accounts this week. These payments mean over 10,600 farmers and crofters will now have received up to 90% of their entitlement earlier than ever before.

“With a further tranche being made later this week, payments worth over a quarter of a billion pounds will be injected into the rural economy showing my absolute commitment to support our rural communities," he said.

“Although the deadline has now passed for applicants to be in the first tranche of payments, farmers can still apply for a loan? and we would encourage them to return their applications as soon as possible. Work continues to ensure all eligible businesses who have not yet been offered a loan, receive an offer by the end of October – these businesses can then expect payment before the end of November.”

According to the most recent schedule of dates laid out in the stabilisation plan, farmers and crofters will receive the balance of their BPS entitlement between March and June 2018.