Rural Support Plan (RSP) - Annex
The Rural Support Plan as required in terms of s2 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 outlining the expected use by Scottish Ministers during the plan period of the powers conferred on them by s6 of the Act - support within the four tier framework
Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme
Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme - RP&S guidance
Description
Additional direct payment to invest in sheep producers farming in rough grazing areas, flat rate for each eligible ewe hogg
Purpose
The Scottish Government is committed to a thriving rural Scotland and to ensuring support for those farming in our upland areas where environmental conditions bring additional challenges and costs. Scottish Government also recognises the importance of livestock and their welfare in sustainable food production. This scheme provides essential direct support to upland sheep farmers, sustaining commercial sheep flocks, facilitating continued business viability and population retention in constrained upland areas as well as maintaining the Scottish countryside.
Contribution to Strategic Outcomes
High Quality Food Production
- SSUSS helps maintain sheep flocks which in turns sustains the Scottish lamb industry
- Cross Compliance conditions regulate land, plant and animal health and welfare facilitating high quality output
Enabling Thriving Rural Communities
- SSUSS facilitates the use of rough grazing for farming
- SSUSS provides direct support to upland sheep farms where farming is more difficult; facilitating continued business viability, and continued contribution to rural communities and the rural economy
Method
Application
Key dates
Annual, application window 1 September to 30 November, payment window by 30 June
Eligibility
- You must have submitted a SAF for the same year
- You must be a farming business maintaining a sheep flock
- Ewe hoggs must have been home bred
- Available Scotland wide for flocks maintained on land designated Payment Region 3 (at least 80% of the land is Payment Region 3 and less than 200ha of the land is Payment Region 1.
Requirements
- You must maintain a flock register
- You must comply with the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) (Scotland) Order 2009
- Claimed ewe hoggs must be kept on the land (including away wintering) from 1 December to 31 March
- You will be subject to inspections
Baseline payment information
Budget circa £7.1M
No. of recipients circa 1,114
Contact
Email: CAP.SRDP.Policy@gov.scot