This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New funding for green farming
02/07/2003
Farmers and crofters today share in funding worth £23.6 million to support wildlife conservation.
The Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie, announced the Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) money during a visit to High Craigton Farm in Milngavie.
Since 2001 High Craigton has received funding from the Rural Stewardship Scheme enabling it to participate in moorland management, management of wetland, species rich grassland and a water margin.
The RSS will offer funding for 1,078 projects to support wildlife conservation on farms and crofts.
Projects to be funded include the management of grassland in the interests of birds, such as the skylark, the creation and management of wetland habitats to benefit species including otters and the creation of field margins to provide rich habitats and protect rivers from pollution.
The Minister said:
"Scotland's farmers are already custodians for the vast majority of the country's landmass. This substantial funding from the Rural Stewardship Scheme will directly result in farmers and crofters managing over 360,000 hectares of land for the benefit of the environment and wildlife.
"Improvements to the scheme and the way it is funded mean that I am able to offer funding to nearly all of this year's applicants. This is an important contribution to the 'green thread' running through our new Partnership Agreement.
"Through this Scheme we are making real progress in securing agricultural management which benefits both people and the environment."
The following are examples of the type of projects that will be funded by the Rural Stewardship Scheme:
- Management of Wetland: enhances wetland areas for birdlife and to encourage botanical diversity that will in turn benefit Invertebrates. This prescription may benefit Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species such as the skylark, otter and reed bunting.
- Management of Species Rich Grassland: encourages the growth and spread of flowering plants and other species in natural grassland. BAP species that may benefit include the nightjar and marsh fritillary.
- Extended Hedges:to create hedges that are wider and taller than normal which will support a diverse range of plants as well as habitats for invertebrates, birds and small mammals. May benefit BAP species such as song thrush, bullfinch and the grey partridge.
- Management of water margins: protects water margins from erosion and permits development of tall waterside vegetation (e.g. tall herbs, scrub and trees that will stabilise banks and provide a habitat for invertebrates) BAP species that may benefit include water vole, otter and pipistrelle bat.
- Conservation Headlands: To leave the headlands of arable fields free from herbicides or insecticides. This allows the natural development of a varied flora within the headland, which will become a feeding ground and habitat for insects, birds and small mammals. BAP species that may benefit include Grey partridge, linnet and corn bunting.
- Mown Grassland for Birds: Encourages the management of hay and silage fields for the protection of ground nesting birds, their eggs and fledglings BAP species that may benefit include the Grey partridge, corn bunting and brown hare.
The Rural Stewardship Scheme is one of a number of measures co-funded by the EU as part of the Rural Development Plan for Scotland. It provides for a range of annual payments to be made to farmers and crofters for up to 10 years for adopting environmentally friendly farming practices.
Awards are funded through modulation (re-cycling) of a proportion of CAP subsidies (3.5% this year) and treasury match funding provided pound for pound, thus doubling the value of modulation to the farming industry. Some 1087 applications were submitted this year. Awards are being made in respect of those applications which deliver the best environmental gain and value for money, scoring 30 points or more in the ranking system.
In addition to payments for conservation management of specified sites, participants are required to farm in accordance with the requirements of Good Farming Practice.
The 1078 farmers being offered awards this year are funded for five years. The farmer and the Scottish Executive have the option of renewing the agreement after five years. It is normal that farmers will opt for continuation.
The breakdown of the number of farmers offered Rural Stewardship Awards by SEERAD Area Office area is as follows:
Ayr: 106
Benbecula: 2
Dumfries: 39
Galashiels: 138
Grampian: 319
Hamilton: 48
Inverness: 81
Kirkwall: 61
Lairg: 12
Lerwick: 2
Oban: 45
Perth: 113
Portree: 32
Stornoway: 15
Thurso: 65
The Executive also announced £565,000 funding from its Organic Aid Scheme (OAS). The scheme will enable farmers and crofters to convert 751.44ha. of Arable Area Payment Scheme (AAPS) eligible land, 600.28ha of improved grassland and 322.67ha of rough grazing.
A total of 21 applications were submitted this year. Awards are made in respect of those applications which deliver the best environmental gain, marketing vision and value for money, scoring 45 points or more in the ranking system that was introduced for the first time in 2002.
The Organic Aid Scheme was introduced in 1994 and provides payments over a five-year period to encourage farmers to convert their enterprise to organic production methods.
Awards are funded from modulation of a proportion of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies and Treasury match-funding, thus doubling the value of modulation to the farming industry.
OAS payment rates will be subject to review during this year in line with the commitments in the Executive's Organic Action Plan published in February 2003.