Deadline for farming loans approaches

Farmers and crofters in Orkney are being reminded that the deadline for applying to the Scottish Government’s National Loan Scheme is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 12.

The loan scheme, announced by Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing in September, has the potential to inject £300 million into the Scottish rural economy in early November.

The scheme offers eligible businesses a sum equivalent to 80 percent of the Basic Support Scheme and Greening payments they would expect to receive from their claim to 2016 CAP schemes.

Several hundred Scottish farmers and crofters who have Region 3 land (hill ground) on their claim were initially misinformed of the value of the loan available to them. They will have been contacted by phone by Scottish Government officials last week, will receive a new claim letter and will have until  October 19 to apply.

Scotland’s Farmers Union, NFU Scotland, is reminding all that, to receive the loan, they must opt in by signing, completing and returning a slip in a pre-paid envelope. Should they have any queries, the Union is urging them to contact the RPID Information Line on 0300 300 2222 or email nationalBPSscheme@gov.scot