The Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS), a £6 million fund which supports sheep production in Scotland’s hills and uplands, is now open.

Applications to the scheme, now entering its ninth year, opened on Sunday 1 September and close at midnight on Saturday, November 30. Payment rates on eligible ewe hoggs were £61.38 in 2023 and £61.25 in 2022 with around 1150 farming and crofting businesses submitting applications annually.

Scottish Government has committed to SUSSS until at least 2026 and is engaging with the industry on the Scheme’s future beyond that date.

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As the nation celebrates #LoveLambWeek, running from September 1 until September 7, NFU is marking the contribution that hill farmers and crofters make to the Scottish sheep sector and calling on the Scottish Government to ensure the benefits of active grazing in our hills and uplands continue to be recognised in the future.

NFU Scotland’s Less Favoured Areas Committee chair, Peter Kennedy, a hill farmer from Glendaruel in Argyllshire said: “We want to see coupled support for the sheep sector continue as this will ensure active livestock grazing, particularly in extensive systems, is encouraged and supported.

“It is well recognised that the current SUSSS scheme has real merit, and we welcome Scottish Government commitment to the scheme until at least 2026. That gives us scope to further improve this important support stream.

“The role of the scheme must be considered in conjunction with the expected changes to the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme, which delivers an additional £60 million per year into our disadvantaged areas.

“With 90% of Scotland’s sheep found on LFA holdings, SUSSS and LFASS are mutually inclusive.

“Our LFA Committee continues to discuss the future of both and look forward to engaging with Scottish Government to underline the importance of active farming and crofting to Scotland’s rural communities, food production and climate.”