Farming scheme under-fire as Far North small farmers and crofters miss out

Fewer than one in ten small farmers and crofters have received funding from an under-fire Scottish Government scheme that was meant to support them, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have revealed.

The Scottish Government’s Future Farming Investment Scheme was launched earlier this year to help farmers and crofters invest in improvements that support long-term sustainability, climate action, and environmental goals.

However, data made available to the Scottish Liberal Democrats under freedom of information has revealed 91% (1,421) of the small farms and crofts across Scotland that applied for the scheme received nothing.

• Of the 76 small farms that applied through the Golspie office in Sutherland, just one was successful (99% rejected).
• Of the 99 small farms that applied via the Thurso office in Caithness, just five were successful (95% rejected).
• Of the 168 small farms that applied via the Inverness office, just nine received support (95% rejected).

While the success rate among medium and large farms was higher, farmers across Scotland have said that the allocations made under the scheme have left them “bitterly disappointed”, “confused” and “let down”.

NFU Scotland said there appeared to be inconsistencies in the results. The Scottish Crofting Federation has also raised concerns and called for greater transparency around how applications were scored.

David Green, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said:

“Farmers have been warning for some time that they are facing unprecedented pressures, from rising fuel, fertiliser and feed costs to increasingly unpredictable weather. We need them to do well - for their livelihoods, our food security and to tackle the climate crisis.

“Ministers promised that small farms, crofters and tenant farmers would be prioritised under the Future Farming Investment Scheme, but rejection rates across the Far North paint a very different picture.

“With the Scottish Government leaving countless applicants with unanswered questions, it is not surprising that so many feel let down. Before rolling out another round of funding, Ministers must listen to industry voices and explain clearly how awards are being allocated.”

ENDS.

Notes to editors:

You can find a breakdown of the number of small farms and crofts (under 30 hectares) whose applications were unsuccessful or rejected here.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat FOIs also found that of the 6,326 medium (<30ha/<150ha) and large (>150ha) farms which applied under the scheme:

• 2,558 failed one or more of the eligibility requirements.
• 2,239 were eligible but did not receive a grant from the scheme.
• 1,529 were successful.

You can read more about what farmers have said about the scheme here

Scottish Government guidance on how the funding was supposed to be prioritised included island based agricultural businesses and small agricultural businesses. You find it here.