Support package worth £250,000 announced for Scottish farmers

The £250,000 funding follows recent severe weather
The £250,000 funding follows recent severe weather

The Scottish government has announced a support package worth £250,000 to help farmers who have experienced recent severe weather.

The package of support for farmers and crofters will help address the impact of recent extreme and adverse weather. It has been announced today (18 April) by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.

It includes a new £250,000 fund to help farmers offset the cost of retrieving fallen livestock.

The Scottish Government-appointed expert weather panel recognised that recent severe weather had caused a rise in the number of sheep and cattle deaths on farms across Scotland.

The panel said that financial support should be provided to those incurring additional costs of disposal of dead cattle and sheep.

The package also includes action to address feed and fodder shortages and to provide more practical and emotional support to farmers and their families whose wellbeing might be suffering as the long days and nights in harsh conditions take their toll.

'Massive impact'

Mr Ewing said the government is "already doing a lot" to help farmers cope with the adverse conditions.

He said: “I’ve seen first-hand the massive impact that the prolonged wet and severe weather has been having on farmers, resulting in higher numbers of dead animals, and acute shortages in fodder across the country.

Mr Ewing said beside the £250,000, the government are offering aid including cash flow through the LFASS and BPS loan schemes, providing specialist advice through the Farm Advisory Service, and seeking derogation from the European Commission from the Three Crop rule.

The Rural Economy Secretary said the £250,000 will help offset part of the additional costs farmers have faced in the uplift and disposal of dead sheep and cattle.