Ross Finnie tells Scotland's farmers that £296m has been paid out

SCOTLAND - Ross Finnie, the rural development minister with the Scottish Executive, has said 19,279 producers - representing 91% of all claims - have now received their first instalment of their single farm payment.

Mr Finnie was speaking at NFU Scotland’s annual general meeting in St Andrews.

He added to date almost £296 million has been paid, which amounts to over 75% of the funds available, excluding the national reserve.

Mr Finnie, who has been in charge of rural affairs in Scotland for almost seven years, said during that time built up a good rapport with farmers.

“Over the years we have developed a totally different relationship between the industry and the Executive and it is now very much more positive.

“At first I sensed that every farmer thought his neighbour was a competitor, but now they have come to regard Holland, Denmark, New Zealand and other countries as the real opposition.

“The result is that there is now a much more collaborative approach within the industry,” he said.

In his address to the delegates the minister stressed the importance of farming to the Scottish food industry.

He said: “Agriculture remains a traditional cornerstone of the rural economy employing directly nearly 5% of the rural workforce as well as supporting many others.

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Source: FWi

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