The Scottish Government has confirmed that EU funding for farmers, which was due to end this year, will continue for another year.

Delays in reforming the Common Agricultural Policy could have meant a year-long gap in some streams of support until the new CAP kicks in at the start of 2015.

Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead, said direct payments to Scottish farmers in the form of the Single Farm Payment (Pillar 1) worth around £500 million a year to Scotland will go ahead as normal and "as much as possible" of the £1.2 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) will continue next year.

"We are acting quickly using the powers and funds available to us to protect essential subsidies for farmers and ensure we continue to protect our natural environment," said Lochhead.

Despite an 11% real terms cut in the Scottish Government's budget, rural growth funds will rise £4m for 2014-15 to £70m, which will mitigate the impact of delays. "My officials will be writing to those who receive support under these schemes setting out our plans in more detail and what they should do next," he said.

But not all SRDP schemes would be able to continue and the Scottish Government, along with other governments, is pressing for a roll-over of the rural development programme for 2014.

The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, which supports farm businesses in remote areas, will continue in 2014 with a 2015 payment date as normal.