Rural Payments and Services

Before you apply for this scheme please read the full scheme guidance. If you have any questions or concerns, ask us before you submit an application or claim.

Full Scheme Guidance

If you need any help or assistance to use this guidance, you can book an appointment at your local area office.

Book an appointment

There is no formal application process to confirm your eligibility for this programme, it is the applicants responsibility to read and digest the guidance to confirm that they meet the conditions detailed for the option that they are choosing to claim.

To submit a claim you will need to:

• have an active Business Reference Number (BRN)
• be registered for funding with the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division (SGRPID),
• have completed and paid for the claimed option.
• submit for both Carbon Audits and Soil Analysis an invoice, and a copy of your bank statement to show the payment for the options has been made

Claims should be made annually for work that has been completed and paid for within the period of 1st January and 31st December with the claim submitted by the deadline date of 28th February of the following year.

If you are not registered, do not have an account or do not know your login details, visit Business Registration & Maintenance.

Further details of what needs to be provided can be found in the Full Scheme Guidance.

You can also watch our tutorial videos.

Carbon Audits

A Carbon Audit establishes a business’s carbon footprint, it identifies the sources and quantities of greenhouse gas emissions on farms and areas where simple changes can lead to improved efficiency, and reduced operating costs and emissions.

The Carbon Audit must be created using a recognised tool such as the Agricultural Resource Efficiency Calculator (AgRE Calc ©) and align to PAS 2050 standard.

Soil Sampling to improve Nutrient Management Planning (NMP)

Land managers in Scotland claiming Region 1 land on their annual SAF form will be able to claim actual cost up to a calculated maximum value for their soil sampling. With the first claim they will additionally be paid a standard cost payment to cover personal development.

The aim of the option is to improve nutrient planning and nutrient management. This will encourage the best use of nutrients from inorganic and organic fertiliser (including slurry and farmyard manure) by matching applications to crop requirements. It should thus reduce the loss of nutrients to the environment.

Additional benefits are reduced diffuse pollution, emissions and improved carbon capture on farmland.

Animal Health and Welfare Interventions

The aim of this option is to encourage livestock keepers in Scotland to improve the health and welfare of their cattle and sheep, regardless of the size of their business or current health status. It is a “starter package” to prompt a review of your flock or herd, and to help you consider health and welfare interventions that improve performance.

Improved health results in better production efficiency, which means lower greenhouse gas emissions per kg of output. Healthier animals are more productive, require less veterinary intervention and have better welfare than their under-performing counterparts.

The claim process has been designed to ensure that all information is gathered at application to allow your claim to be verified and processed as simply as possible.

Your claim may be selected for inspection before the payment is made, or up to five years after date of claim. No claims will progress to payment before they have been through the inspection selection process and fully checked.

Payments will be made directly into the Sterling bank account registered with SGRPID.

Supporting evidence

You will need to provide copies of your bank or building society statement or business credit card statement so that we can confirm all invoices have been paid in full by your business.

For soil analysis paperwork must detail fully all claimed soil samples, which will demonstrate:

• Business details of testing company/ laboratory
• Number of samples
• Analysis details for all mandatory elements
  • PH level,
  • Phosphate (P),
  • Potash (K) and
  • Carbon
• Recommendations for lime and fertilisers, based upon the crop(s) you intend to grow reflecting Scottish conditions

Useful links:

• Registering A Business (paper form)
• Registering your business (and mandate update)
• Rural Payments and Services Account Registration

If you have any questions about this scheme, please get in touch. Contact details can be found in our Contact us section.

Contact us