Rise in farm payment euro rate
The exchange rate to be used for the 2013 Single Farm Payment Scheme has gone up. The rate has been set at of €1 = £0.83605 by the European Central Bank, a rise of almost 5% compared to last year. The decision affects about 16,000 Scottish famers who receive their Single Farm Payments (SFP) in… Read more »
Priority for savings differs between the genders
Recent research by Friend’s Life, conducted as part of its month-long focus on gender, has revealed that men and women have different priorities when it comes to saving – but saving for retirement falls low on the list for both genders. After essentials such as household bills, mortgages and loans, 18% of women prioritise saving… Read more »
Farm debt continues to rise
Outstanding debt of Scottish farms has risen over the past year, according to a release from Scotland’s Chief Statistician. The latest results from the Survey of Bank Advances to Scottish Agriculture have revealed that outstanding bank loans to Scottish farms rose by £53 million in the year to 31st May 2013. Total outstanding loans to… Read more »
Selling your home to pay for care
The Alzheimer’s Society has responded to recent research released by NFU Mutual, which found that around three quarters of people who go into residential care might have to sell their home to pay for care. The research also found that half of councils have been forced to cut spending on residential care in the last… Read more »
First weather payments for farmers
More than 4,000 farmers across Scotland who lost livestock during this year’s extreme weather have received compensation from the Scottish Government. On a visit to Arran, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead confirmed most of the Scottish Government’s £750,000 Fallen Stock Fund has now been paid out. It comes as Scottish Government officials continue to process… Read more »