New Greening guidance for 2016 was published yesterday on the Scottish Government's Rural Payments and Services website.
The guidance - which has been developed in close collaboration with NFU Scotland and environmental organisations - includes some important updates for next year.
It also explains the equivalence options that may be available to farmers if they are approved by the EU - including, for example, allowing Scottish farmers to choose alternative ways of meeting their crop diversification requirements.
Meanwhile, farmers and other land managers will begin to receive their share of £6.7 million of rural development payments from Monday next week.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed the Scottish Government's Rural Payment and Inspectorate Division (RPID) has begun processing more than 5,000 Land Managers Option (LMO) payments for the 2014 scheme year. The scheme supports agri-environment and animal health and welfare measures and the vast majority of LMO payments are due to be paid within two weeks.
Mr Lochhead said: "We have been pulling out all the stops to make these payments as soon as possible after the extended Single Application Form (SAF) window closed."
Market round-up
United Auction sold 730 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 241.9p per kg and an average of 204.3p (-5.7p on the week), while 1446 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 253.6p and levelled at 213.7p (-2.8p). One-hundred-and-five store, B&W bullocks sold to 156.5p and averaged 138.1p (+0.3p).
In the rough ring 133 beef cows averaged 116.5p and 28 dairy cows levelled at 72.3p.
C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 12 prime cattle forward in Dumfries on Wednesday when heifers sold to 218.5p and averaged 190.4p, while bullocks peaked at 230p and levelled at 192.5p.
There were 76 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when beef cows averaged 123.9p and dairy cows levelled at 77.9p.
The firm also sold 835 prime lambs to a top of £75 per head and 170p per kg to average 138.7p (-6.3p).
The 405 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £76.50 for Texels and average £58.36 (-£1.05), while light ewes peaked at £49 for Hill Cheviots and levelled at £39.85.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1209 prime lambs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £70 and 153.2p to average 133.2p (-15.3p).
There were also 693 cast sheep forward when ewes sold to £106 for Suffolks and £54 for Blackfaces.
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