Around 7,000 suckler beef farmers are being paid £101.56/calf for mainland-born animals, with £148.20/calf going to those on the islands. Payments are being made through the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme which gives farmers support for every beef calf born on their farm.

Overall, the farmers will share around £40m of coupled payment. This is a rise of £2.64 for mainland calves with island calves getting paid £3.93 more.

Suckler herds form the backbone of quality beef production in Scotland

A further 469 convergence payments worth £768,500 have also been processed this week, mainly for new entrants to farming.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “Suckler herds form the backbone of quality beef production in Scotland, and I can confirm that the first tranche of the 2019 Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme payments will begin shortly.

“I am also pleased that we are making the convergence funds go further, reaching new entrants who are so important to the future of farming.

We also need to keep the food supply chain moving

“All of these payments will aid business cashflow, helping to support farmers and crofters to continue to produce the quality meat products that Scotland is globally renowned for – and which we now need on our supermarket shelves more than ever.

“These are unprecedented and difficult times for the whole country and it is vital that we support our farmers and crofters. But we also need to keep the food supply chain moving.

“I would therefore encourage farmers and crofters to use their CAP payments to pay their bills and make investments for the seasons ahead to help keep money flowing through Scotland’s rural economy.”