Rural Payments and Services

The Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP) Route Map was updated in October 2025 to state that the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) is expected to continue until at least 2030 as we transition to the new support framework.

AECS 2025 application round

Due to the delay of the announcement of the Draft Scottish Budget, notifications and contract issue for the 2025 AECS application round will be later than usual.

AECS 2026 application round

The AECS pages on the Rural Payments website have been redesigned to make them easier to navigate and to find important information.

Dates for the 2026 application windows

Application type	Application window dates
Agri-Environment applications	23 February to 20 June 2026
Organics applications	23 February to 31 July 2026
Stand-alone Irrigation Lagoon applications	23 February to 20 June 2026
Agri-environment combined with Organics or Irrigation Lagoons in same application	23 February to 20 June 2026

Amendments to Options and items

Selected options and items were reviewed, with input from external stakeholders. This included, widening the eligibility of some options through the removal of geographical targeting. Details of the full amendments can be found on the AECS homepage in the Updates section.

For clarity, the following options and items continue to be suspended for the 2026 application round:

• Creation of Species Rich Grassland
• Heather Restoration
• Heather Restoration – Follow-up Molinia Control
• Muirburn and Heather Cutting: Muirburn remains suspended but Heather Cutting is still supported
• Primary Treatment of Bracken - Chemical (Mechanised & Manual treatment are supported)
• Follow up Treatment of Bracken - Chemical (Mechanised & Manual treatment are supported)

Reminder for applications which include management for designated sites, peatland restoration and/or deer

You are strongly advised to seek advice from NatureScot before starting to work up an AECS application for a designated site or for peatland restoration and at least a month before the application deadline.

You must seek advice from a NatureScot Wildlife Management Officer regarding your deer management plans before applying. The deadline for seeking NatureScot advice on your draft completed deer management plan is 30 April 2026.

Please use the relevant regional email box for contacting NatureScot

Amendment to scoring for agri-environment applications

The scoring criteria below have been amended:

‘National Priorities’ criterion: Biodiversity: Vulnerable Priority Species (VPS)

• There are several changes to the requirements to score VPS points for waders
• There is an additional point for meeting certain stocking density requirements for Wader Grazed Grassland

• For Black Grouse, the Heath management (lowland heath) option is added to the list of options related to VPS scoring

‘Additional Points’ criterion: Water Quality:

• There will be an additional point available if all proposed new water margins meet the extra requirements related to their width

Fair Work First requirements

A reminder that these will apply to contracts arising from the 2025 application round onwards.