Over 11,000 farmers and crofters will start to see their share of £275.8 million of financial support paid into their accounts this week.

The payments will be made through the 2021 National Basic Payment Support Scheme announced by the Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon in August. The loan scheme provides eligible Scottish farmers and crofters access of up to 95% of their 2021 CAP BPS and Greening payment, restricted to the scheme maximum of £133,638.

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Ms Gougeon said: “This is the first year that farmers and crofters have been able to accept their loan offer online and doing it this way is the quickest and easiest way for them to get their payments. The online acceptance has been a great success with more than 70% of those eligible having used this process.

“We want to make sure all of our farmers and crofters receive their payments as soon as possible and the money will be landing in eligible accounts now, with payments continuing to be made on a regular basis. We have noticed that a small number of people applying by paper are not supplying the correct information which is causing delays in them receiving their payment.”

Read more: Farmers' last chance for a BPS loan