Crofters' hope for Euro payments

LFASS payments are made to farmers in upland and islands areas

Up to 8,000 crofters remain hopeful of receiving European payments by Christmas despite a delay in a major subsidy programme.

Crofters and farmers are still waiting for money under this year's Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS).

The Scottish Government fears the payments will be affected by the delay in the European Union's Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

The scheme is expected to be worth more than £1.5bn between now and 2013.

Delayed by almost a year already, the government had hoped it would be approved this month but the European Parliament will not now make any decision until early next year.

The programme involves payments designed to manage the environment with activities such as planting hedges, protecting wildlife and encouraging organic farming.

Christmas card

Patrick Krause, chief executive of the Scottish Crofting Foundation, said the delay was causing concern.

But he added it should still be possible for LFASS cash - compensatory payments to upland farmers who face higher production costs - to be given as interim payments from the Scottish Government who could then claim them back from Europe.

Mr Krause said: "With foot-and-mouth and less of an income, farmers really need the LFASS payment."

The foundation's Christmas card this years shows Santa at a croft and inside carries a line about him delivering the LFASS subsidy.

Meanwhile, Scottish Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary Richard Lochead said the news of a further delay was a "huge disappointment and extremely frustrating".