Payments under the new Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) began today. The Scottish Government expects to pay out up to £5.6m over the next few days to around 1,100 farmers and crofters, with the majority being made a payment by the end of the week.

Under the terms of the scheme, the available funding is divided by the number of eligible animals. Approximately 101,000 sheep have been included in the scheme this year, meaning producers will receive €78.12 per ewe hogg. That's below the original estimated rate of closer to €100. reflecting the fact that more ewe hoggs were claimed than was expected.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: "It appears that the new sheep scheme has led to eligible farmers increasing their number of animals. Whilst this may be a welcome indication of confidence in the sector, it does have a bearing on the final payment rates, as EU regulations specify that coupled support schemes must only be used to halt declines in livestock numbers, rather than aim to increase them."

NFU Scotland's Less Favoured Areas Committee chairman Martin Kennedy commented: "While the rate of payment is disappointing compared to what farmers and crofters were expecting, it is much better that these precious funds are delivered as a couple sheep payment to those actively keeping sheep than the money being simply spread across all Region 3 land."

For the future, NFUS believes improvements to the scheme can be made that include a wider application period, a new retention period, and linking the total number of ewe hoggs a producer can claim to a percentage of their breeding flock.

* Meanwhile, champion shearer 32-year-old Matt Smith has conquered the Nine Hour Ewe World Shearing Record, by shearing 731 ewes in nine hours - an average of 44 seconds to shear each sheep.

Mr Smith, who is originally from New Zealand, settled in Cornwall three years ago where he farms 1385 breeding ewes, primarily Romneys, with his wife Pippa.

This is the first time a world record of this kind has been attempted both in the UK and the Northern Hemisphere. The previous Nine Hour Ewe World Shearing Record, which was set in 2007, stood at 721 ewes and was held by fellow New Zealander, Rodney Sutton of Porangahau.

Market round-up

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1054 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of £100 per head and 200p per kg to average 181.4p (-7.5p on the week).

There were also 343 cast sheep forward that also met an easier trade on the week, particularly over-fat types, with ewes selling to £104 for Texels and £61.50 for Blackfaces.