This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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£25 million for green farming
30/08/2006
Nearly 700 farms across Scotland will receive £25 million worth of support to encourage environmentally friendly farming practices.
The awards, from the Rural Stewardship Scheme and the Organic Aid Scheme, will maintain and enhance habitats and landscapes or help farmers convert to or maintain organic farm land.
This year alone, a further 20,000 hectares of conventional farm land will move to organic production.
Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie said:
"These awards show our continued commitment to help farmers, rural communities and the environment in Scotland. More than £175 million has now been allocated since 2000, which is clear evidence of our support for a sustainable farming industry and for the environment.
"Funding allocations through the Organic Aid Scheme have doubled since last year, a significant boost for organic farming, but one that retains maximum flexibility and resources for the new Scottish Rural Development Plan next year.
"The success of the Rural Stewardship Scheme and Organic Aid Scheme, however, means that we are receiving unprecedented levels of applications for funding. Funding for rural development is finite, so the bar for approvals has had to be set higher than has historically been the case.
"All of the resources in the current Scottish Rural Development Plan have been committed. I recognise that there are applicants who will be disappointed.
"That's why I proposed, in our consultation on the new Scottish Rural Development Programme for 2007-13, a review of agri-environment schemes. That will include a fundamental consideration of funding principles for the future, to ensure that the available resources deliver maximum public benefit.
"In the light of this latest funding round, I have decided to bring the review forward to begin later this year. The review will be completed as early as possible in 2007."
The awards under the Organic Aid Scheme will support producers to convert 20,000 hectares of conventional farm land to organic, of which 15,000 hectares is classed as good quality land. The Scheme will also support producers to maintain over 55,000 hectares of land to organic standards. The awards will also support over 1,700 hectares of fruit and vegetable land, a considerable boost for the organic fruit and vegetable sector, where demand outstrips supply. This will allow more local organic produce to be available for consumers.
The Rural Stewardship Scheme supports the management of habitats such as wetlands, moorland and field boundaries. These are important for a wide range of wildlife, such as the black grouse and the capercaillie, as well as mammals and insects and will deliver significant landscape benefits.
Funding for Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) and Organic Aid Scheme (OAS) is programmed in the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), which runs from 2000-2006.
There were 2,361 applications to join the RSS in 2006. Funding of £12.45 million has been allocated to 524 of the best quality applications.
There were 314 applications to join the OAS, 161 for conversion and 153 for maintenance payments. Funding has been allocated for 157 applications (102 conversion and 55 maintenance) at a cost of £11.33 million.
The numbers of farmers benefiting from these measures are at record levels, as is expenditure. However, with a finite budget, the increased level of demand means that there are unsuccessful applicants. In order to address this situation for the future, a planned review of agri-environment will be brought forward and will now get under way later this year. The findings will help inform the approach to agri-environment funding for the next SRDP which runs from 2007-2013.
The new thresholds for farmers have been set at:
- RSS 62.5 points
- OAS Conversion 82 points
- OAS Maintenance 97 points