Dear Sir,

I am writing in reference to the article in The Scottish Farmer entitled ‘Wet weather help – or PR stunt?’, dated 13 October 2017, as I would like to clearly state that ewe hogg farmers have until 30 November to submit their claim, by which time they must have tagged their animals.

Having listened to farmers’ concerns, I announced on 27th September my decision to extend the timetable for applying to the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme until 30 November 2017. I made this decision because I was aware that the poor weather conditions have hampered farmers’ ability to gather flocks off the hills and draw their future breeding stock.

Farmers have until 30 November to submit their claim, by which time they must have tagged their animals, with the retention period for the scheme remaining unchanged at 17 October 2017- 31 March 2018. Farmers and crofters who intend to submit a SUSSS claim, should ensure that all claimed animals are tagged in accordance with the eligibility conditions, prior to the submission of their claim.

I hope this provides some much needed clarity on the key dates for this scheme and the assurance that farmers and crofters need to apply for this valuable, additional support in time.

Yours faithfully,

Fergus Ewing

Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity