Due to ongoing problems with the Scottish Government's £180m IT system, a new National Loan scheme offers approximately 17,000 of the 18,300 farmers and crofters who have applied to 2016 CAP support schemes 80 per cent of the support they would expect to receive - with the loan due to be paid in the first few weeks of November.

It has now emerged that for some farmers and crofters, not all of the region 3 land (typically hill ground) that they have included in their 2016 claim, has been included in the calculations for their national loan. Scottish Government only realised the error after the letters had been printed and sent for distribution.

Scottish Government has quickly acknowledged the error and will be contacting, by phone, each of the hundreds of individual farmers or crofters who are affected. They will receive new loan offer letters and will be given an extra week (until October 19) to respond. A prompt response is needed to ensure that they still get their loan payment in the first two weeks of November.

NFU Scotland CEO Scott Walker said: "On the same day that MSPs on the Public Audit committee are taking evidence on the flawed CAP Futures IT programme, another error with the £180m computer system will once again undermine farmers and crofters confidence in it ever being capable of delivering."

Market round-up

United Auctions sold 539 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 232.3p per kg and an average of 202p (-5p on the week), while 1260 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 255.6p and levelled at 208.2p (-4.2p). Two-hundred-and-five store, B&W bullocks sold to 199.6p and averaged 140.5p (+1.1p), while 39 store bulls peaked at 238.6p and averaged 214.6p (no comparison).

C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 22 prime cattle forward in Dumfries on Wednesday when heifers sold to 227.5p and averaged 207.8p, while bullocks peaked at 224.5p and levelled at 193.8p.

There were 72 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when beef cows sold to £1254 and 141p to average 95.3p, while dairy cows peaked at £893.20 and 95p to level at 72.6p.

The firm also sold 1101 prime lambs to a top of £88 per head and 190.9p per kg to average 166.4p (-12p).

A nice show of 654 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £100 for Texels and average £58.84 (-£14.19), while light ewes peaked at £77 for Cheviots and levelled at £40.74 (+£5.05).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1158 prime lambs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £93.50 and 182.1p to average 169.4p (-5.6p)