£7m upland sheep scheme opens to hill farmers and crofters
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Hill farmers and crofters are being reminded that the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS), worth more than £7 million annually, is now open.
The application period for SUSSS began on Thursday and closes on November 30, giving applicants three months with eligible ewe hoggs to get their applications into the Scottish Government.
NFU Scotland LFA chairman Robert Macdonald said: “SUSSS is a vital source of support for more than 1000 hill sheep farmers and crofters and, in a year when every penny will count, they must make the most of this valuable funding stream.
“Last scheme year, the payment rate per eligible ewe hogg was worth £61.65 per head. This support is not only important for farmers and crofters producing a fantastic product from some of the toughest farmland, but also to the local communities which see a huge amount of reinvestment from these businesses.”
The opening of SUSSS coincides with the return of Love Lamb Week, the annual week-long celebration of lamb. The week runs until September 7 and aims to shine a light on the sustainability of UK sheep production, whilst also reminding consumers of the taste and quality of UK lamb.
As in previous years, the industry-wide initiative is supported by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), NFU Scotland, AHDB and others.
Livestock policy manager Hannah Melville said: “Sheep farming plays an integral role in the preservation of our natural landscapes and prosperity of our rural communities, as well as making an important contribution to our national economy.
“That is why celebrating such a tasty, local product as part of the eighth Love Lamb Week is a real opportunity for the industry to showcase, once again, why Scotland is one of the most suitable places in the world to sustainably farm and produce quality lamb.”
