FULL payments under 2017's Less Favourable Area Support Scheme have now started, ScotGov confirmed this week.
Following on from the LFASS advance loans offered earlier in the year, 4675 balance payments totalling £4.2 million have now been processed, with the first payments reaching bank accounts today, bringing the money delivered by the 2017 scheme to £23.4 million.
ScotGov said that this means 42% of all eligible LFASS 2017 claims have now been paid, with more payments to follow in the coming weeks.
Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said: “Given the pressures that farmers and crofters continue to face, due in part to the extreme weather conditions during the winter and summer periods, I’m glad to see these important payments starting two months earlier than last year.
“Earlier in the year we provided a loan option for farmers in advance of these payments, to help provide cashflow and financial certainty. Farmers are the backbone of Scotland’s rural economy and the Scottish Government is committed to supporting them wherever possible," he added.
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