Three quarters of single farm payment recipients will start to receive their payments from today.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said that 75 per cent of payments would be made within 15 days of the payment window opening today. That means 14,300 farmers can look forward to receiving a share of £335 million.

Mr Lochhead said:

"The single farm payments are vital for Scotland's farmers and I'm delighted that, once again, over 70 per cent of applicants will receive their payments in the first 15 days - providing a boost not just for farmers but also the whole rural economy.

"This year, for the first time, claimants who have registered with Rural Payments Online will be able to view their payment information up to seven days before it hits their bank account.

"Around 20,000 Scottish farmers receive single farm payments and I know this is an important time of year for them which is why we always make strenuous efforts to process payments promptly."

The European regulations fix a payment window that means payments can be made between December 1 and June 30. The single farm payment is paid in Euros and the exchange rate for this year's payments will be 86.665p.