News 2022

Sheep grazing on a snowy field with snow covered hills in the background.

Budget protects rural and island economy

21 December, 2022

Payments to farmers made early to mitigate cost of living crisis.

A brown cow with white markings on its nose stood in a grass field looking directly at the camera.

Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme 2022 - application window closes 31 December

20 December, 2022

The Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) 2022 application window will close at midnight on 31 December.

An agricultural worker walks down the middle of an aisle in a large greenhouse

Agri wages board - minimum wage proposal

8 December, 2022

Minimum hourly rate proposed for all agricultural workers

Image of a food larder with various compartments holding local produce including eggs and potatoes

Monitor farm project develops global offering

7 December, 2022

Funding for growing agritourism sector.

Image of small house in foreground with snowy mountain in the background

Croft House Grant Scheme - change to claims process

5 December, 2022

Funds to be released earlier in the build process

A photograph of a hilly landscape, with patchwork fields. Two fields contain yellow Rapeseed, with other grass fields surrounding them.

Supporting agricultural innovation

16 November, 2022

New round of monitor farms to optimise production in the farming sector.

Inside a cheese store with shelves full of wheels of cheese

Supporting food and drink businesses

7 November, 2022

Food and drink businesses across Scotland will benefit from a share of more than £10 million to improve supply-chain efficiency, increase production and run feasibility studies.

A man bends down to pick up soil in his hands

Claim funding through PSF and SACGS

2 November, 2022

Customers able to submit soil analysis and capital grants claims.

Aerial photograph of grass fields and hills, with hedges and woodland along boundaries and on the side of hill areas.

Supporting innovation and knowledge sharing in Agriculture

14 October, 2022

Projects receive funding through Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund.

Calculator on top of a form with a pen in the background

Funding support scheme delivers for agri sector

4 October, 2022

More than £300m payments made early to mitigate cost of living crisis.

close up of a customer using a laptop. Only the hands are visible.

Advance payments 2022 - Frequently Asked Questions

30 September, 2022

Questions answered on the National Basic Payment Support Scheme (NBPSS) 2022

Reductions and exclusions - 2016 letters

30 September, 2022

Farmers and crofters who experienced a reduction to their various 2016 payment schemes to receive an explanation

Small area of newly planted trees and some older trees

Payments make tree planting another option

27 September, 2022

Small areas of woodland on farms and crofts will soon attract funding supporting sustainable agriculture under planned changes to legislation.

Light brown cow looking directly into camera, it has a yellow tag in each ear and a black cow either side of it.

Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme 2022 - Update

23 September, 2022

The Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme 2022 is still open for applications.

Rural Secretary Mairi Gougeon speaking with crofters and farmers at a livestock auction

Agri Bill consultation events - schedule

20 September, 2022

Come along to one of our events to have your say on the Scottish Government's vision for agriculture

A sheep stood side on to the camera in a grass field, with its face turned to look directly at the camera and a red spray mark on it's back.

Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) 2022 open to applications

1 September, 2022

The 2022 Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) opened for applications Thursday 1 September.

Generic image of customer using a laptop. Face hidden.

Increased rates for Basic Payment Scheme and Greening 2022

31 August, 2022

Farmers and crofters set to receive an increased rate.

Main chamber of the Scottish Parliament building, Edinburgh

Agriculture Bill consultation launched

29 August, 2022

The next stage in making Scotland a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture has been launched.

A black and brown cow at a feeder looking directly at the camera.

Concerns over New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

22 August, 2022

The UK’s Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand will allow for much higher quantities of produce to come into the UK tariff-free

Covid-19 updates in blue bold text on a white background with a blue germ graphic underneath

Latest COVID guidance for farmers and crofters

19 August, 2022

Guidance summary for agricultural businesses across Scotland

An area office member of staff sat with and supporting a customer at a computer.

Preparing for advance payments

10 August, 2022

Businesses are being urged to ensure their contact and funding details are up-to-date, in anticipation of advance payments

Aerial overhead photograph of a blue tractor planting potatoes in a field.

Agri sector leading the way in sustainability

4 August, 2022

Demand for Carbon Audits in the first six months of the year has exceeded the number completed last year.

Punnets of Blackberries and Raspberries in a wooden crate.

Supporting local food and drinks projects

25 July, 2022

A total of 24 projects have received £110,000 from the Regional Food Fund to help promote and showcase quality produce.

Farm land near Blair Atholl, including an area of wetland with trees surrounding it. There are hills across the backdrop of the landscape.

Have your say on the future of Land Reform

21 July, 2022

Transformative changes are being proposed to the way Scotland’s land is used and managed.

A tractor with forklift attachment on front driving along a croft.

Survey of the Economic Conditions of Crofting 2019-2022

15 July, 2022

Crofters across Scotland will be invited to take part in a survey of the Economic Conditions of Crofting.

Tractor ploughing a potato field with mountains in the background.

Sustainable Farming Survey Closed

11 July, 2022

Testing Actions for Sustainable Farming (TSF) survey is now closed.

Farm payment dates - Frequently Asked Questions

15 June, 2022

Further information regarding the announcement to bring annual farm payments forward

Updated COVID guidance for farmers and crofters

26 May, 2022

Guidance summary for agricultural businesses across Scotland

Single Application Form - window closed

16 May, 2022

SAF window now closed.

Image of hands holding up electronic tablet with 'Application Form' in bold text on the screen

SAF final weekend out of hours service

13 May, 2022

Reminder of out of hours service before the 16th May application deadline

Illustration of a blue laptop with a spanner and screwdriver in the middle of the screen crossing over

UPDATE - Manage Applications and Claims Service - additional functionality and improvements

12 May, 2022

You may not be able to access Manage Applications and Claims Service for a short time

COVID-19 Guidance for Farmers and Crofters

9 May, 2022

Update to COVID-19 guidance for Farmers and Crofters

A white background with a blue laptop with a spanner and screwdriver in the centre of it's screen.

Manage Applications and Claims Service - additional functionality and improvements

6 May, 2022

You may not be able to access the Manage Applications and Claims Service for a short period on 11 and 24 May to allow us to release additional functionality and improvements for SACGS.

New LPIS Map Viewer and Editing Functionality

6 May, 2022

Customers will now be able to access a new version of the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) Map Viewer.

A young deer on a grass track looking back towards the camera under a canopy of trees.

AECS 2022 - General deadline and issue with supporting document upload functionality.

29 April, 2022

Currently there is an issue with the functionality to upload supporting documents to AECS applications

Aerial image of farm (Monzie farm, Pitlochry) with water and trees

Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grants Scheme (SACGS) opens

26 April, 2022

Providing financial support to help businesses invest in sustainable agricultural equipment

Two chickens (housed) perched side on looking into the camera on the left hand side of the screen with more chickens out of focus in the background.

Avian Influenza housing measures to be lifted

26 April, 2022

The mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across the United Kingdom to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted from 00:01 on Monday 2 May 2022.

Image of man with laptop and bank card in hand

Rural Payments Strategy 2022

30 March, 2022

Payments Strategy for 2022 is aiming to ensure farmers and crofters are paid as early as possible.

Suckler Beef payment rates approved

29 March, 2022

The SSBSS 2021 payment rates have been calculated

PCR testing for Bovine TB

28 March, 2022

From 30 March, APHA will be using a new PCR test

Important reminder - bird gatherings

22 February, 2022

Current requirements regarding gatherings of Galliformes and Anseriformes.

Applying for 'Improving Public Access' (IPA) funding - webinar

22 February, 2022

Webinar for prospective applicants to the Improving Public Access fund

AECS 2022 application window open

28 January, 2022

The AECS 2022 application round webpages have now been updated on RP&S. A full list of those updated pages can be found on the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme landing page.

Reductions and Exclusions - 2015 letters on request

17 January, 2022

Some customers will not receive a letter regarding a reduction or exclusion on Pillar 1 payments

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News 2022