Ewing holds farm subsidy pillars transfer rate at 9.5%

The proportion of farm subsidy funds going into rural development schemes will remain the same this year.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing yesterday said he had told Defra that Scotland’s transfer rate for Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) funds from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2 would remain at 9.5% – the same rate as 2015 and 2016.

Pillar 1 funds are used for direct support payments and Pillar 2 funds are used for the Scottish Rural Development Programme including the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme.

Mr Ewing said: “The Scottish Government has a duty to ensure we strike the right balance across the rural economy portfolio and support for agriculture, environment and wider rural development, promoting the most positive outcomes for our land managers, and farmers and wider rural businesses and communities.

“I believe the current Cap transfer rate continues to strike that balance.”