How will the SNP support Scotland’s farmers & crofters?

Scotland’s rural communities, farmers and crofters play a crucial role in our economy, providing us with food security and world-renowned quality produce.

The SNP Scottish Government provides Scotland’s farmers and crofters with the most generous package of direct support in the UK and is committed to providing this direct support in the future.

Through the reform of direct support post-Brexit, the SNP has been clear that there will be no cliff edges in payments that agriculture businesses rely on. By extending the ‘Preparing for Sustainable Farming’ payments for an extra year the SNP continues to stand with farmers to help them meet the climate, biodiversity and efficiency conditions for payments to support their business.

Scotland invests more than £600 million a year in agriculture through reformed direct payments, Voluntary Coupled Support and Less Favoured Area Support Scheme – all in stark contrast to elsewhere in the UK.

The SNP is focused on delivering new opportunities for young farmers. More than 8,400 hectares of land has gone to new farmers since 2016 through the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group.

A record of more than 14,000 hectares of degraded peatlands have been restored across Scotland in the last year, helping to reduce carbon emissions and restore biodiversity.

Helping retain and attract people to remote and rural communities is a priority for the SNP.  Since 2007, the SNP Scottish Government has approved Croft House Grant payments of over £24.8 million helping to build and improve over 1,125 croft homes.

The SNP will always support our rural communities but with harmful decisions taken by successive UK governments including Brexit and inheritance tax reforms, it is clearer than ever that we need the fresh start of independence so that decisions about Scotland’s agriculture are made here in Scotland.