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Ewe scheme payments hit bank accounts
10/12/2007
Money from the Scottish Ewe Scheme will be received by producers from today.
The scheme, announced on October 24, to help the Scottish livestock industry recover from the severe crisis resulting from the foot and mouth outbreak in England, received European approval on November 23.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead said:
"I'm delighted to be able to tell sheep producers that money pledged from the Scottish Ewe Scheme will be with them from today.
"The whole farming sector was badly hit by a crisis not of their making, the outbreaks of foot and mouth in the south of England.
"This money should go some way to easing the pressure.
"With 91 per cent of Single Farm Payment having already been paid out, the ewe scheme brings the total aid given to farmers up to £372 million, benefiting around 19,000 producers."
The scheme offered farmers and crofters payments of £6 per breeding ewe, with the total cost estimated at £19 million.
The payments could not legally be made before the Commission published the scheme, which has now happened.