Rural Payments and Services

As we modernise our agricultural support, we will be piloting new ways of working and new technology. As part of that, we are running a pilot of an Area Monitoring Service (AMS).

What is AMS?

The AMS is a way of capturing real time information on farming activity using satellite imagery. That information can be used to see how farmers and crofters are using their land, including seeing changes. This information can help monitor and improve compliance.

What could we use the AMS for?

The AMS would allow us to identify what farmers and crofters are doing with their land – for example, what crops or features they have on their land. It can flag any changes to land use in real time.

We could use this data to check if they are compliant with scheme or legal requirements. We would then take appropriate action. For example, we could get in touch with the farmer to notify them or send out an inspector.

Importantly, it would also provide information about farms and crofts that do not apply for agricultural support. This would enable greater monitoring for the purposes of climate change and nature targets.

Because AMS is automated, it can save staff time. That means we could monitor compliance over a broader area (Scotland), making better use of our limited resources.

We’re not alone in doing this – similar technologies are being used or tested in England and Wales and the European Union.

How will the pilot work? What impact will the pilot have on farmers and crofters?

The pilot is using historical data. This gives us an opportunity to test the technology. However, it won’t have any impact on farmers or crofters current or upcoming claims.

When is the pilot running?

The pilot started in November and will run until the end of the financial year (end of March 2025).

Where is the pilot being run?

The pilot covers four areas of Scotland. These have been selected to give a representative sample of Scotland.

• Skye
• Highlands
• Dundee
• East Lothian