The Whole Farm Plan - What you need to do in 2025

This year, new rules apply to agricultural payments in Scotland. The biggest change is the start of the Whole Farm Plan.

There are five parts to the Whole Farm Plan. If you are claiming support from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), you should complete at least two by 15 May 2025.

You will have to say which ones you have completed when you fill out your Single Application Form (SAF).

While everyone has to do at least two in 2025, it is up to you to decide which ones you want to do. You only need to carry out the parts that are relevant to your farm or croft business.

You may already have some of these plans and audits in place. If you do, and they meet the minimum standards, you won’t need to take any further action.

Type of audit/plan Who is it for?
Animal health and welfare plan All farmers and crofters that keep livestock
Biodiversity audit All farmers and crofters with permanent land
Carbon audit All farmers and crofters
Integrated Pest Management plan All farmers and crofters that use pesticides and herbicides
Soil analysis All farmers and crofters that claim Region 1 Land and apply artificial fertilisers and / or organic manures to it

The audits and plans can help you to understand how efficient your business is today.

You can use this information to help reduce your costs, emissions and protect biodiversity.

An Animal Health and Welfare Plan can help you improve livestock efficiency. This can help you reduce emissions and become more profitable.

A Biodiversity Audit can help you understand the habitats and linear features on your farm or croft. This will help you consider the best management options for them going forward.

A Carbon Audit provides you with an estimated carbon footprint. This can help you find opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs and emissions.

Soil Analysis can help you make the best use of fertilisers. This can help you reduce your costs and reduce emissions.

An Integrated Pest Management Plan can help you make best use of pesticides and herbicides. This can help you reduce your costs and negative effects on the environment.

Remember - you may already have some of these plans and audits in place.

If you do, and they meet the minimum standards, you won’t need to take any further action. You just have to say which ones you have completed on your SAF.

If you don’t, you can complete most of the audits and plans yourself using free online tools and templates. You can then tell us which ones you have completed on your SAF.

Animal health and welfare plans are already part of many assurance schemes and marketing contracts. If you already have these, then all you need to do is tell us you have one on your SAF.

If you don’t have one, you can use any of the free web and mobile app tools and templates available to do one yourself.

This includes the Scottish Animal Health Planning System (SAHPS).

Many assurance scheme websites also have online templates to help you create your own plan.

One of the simplest ways to start your Whole Farm Plan is to do a basic biodiversity audit. This requires you to create a habitat map covering all the land that you manage on a permanent basis.

You may find that the easiest way to start is to create a list of all your fields and what they are used for. You can use this to create your habitat map. You can do this digitally or on paper.

If you don’t use the Map Viewer on RP&S to create your habitat map, don’t submit it with your SAF. Instead, email or post it to the Land Mapping Team.

If you permanently manage Region 1 land and apply artificial/organic fertiliser to it you will be required to carry out soil analysis.

You may do this already. If you do, and the samples meets the minimum standards, you won’t need to take any further action. Just tell us on your SAF.

If you have not started, there is still time. You must have taken samples and sent them to be tested by 15 May.

If you have not yet completed a Carbon Audit, there are several free tools you can use to do one yourself.

The Plant Health Centre has created a free tool that can help you complete this.

Visit planthealthcentre.scot to find out more.

This is the first year of the Whole Farm Plan.

For that reason, we will not apply penalties for failing to meet Whole Farm Plan requirements in 2025.

However, even if you are struggling to comply, please get as much done as you can. This will help you be ready for next year’s requirements.

Most of your SAF will be the same as last year. You will have to answer a new question on the Whole Farm Plan.

When completing the SAF, all you have to do is say which audits/plans you have, and when they were done.

screenshot of question in SAF asking what whole farm plan options you've completed.

If you want to speak to someone, please contact your local area office.

You can find their details on the “contact us” page.

The Scottish Farm Advisory Service (FAS) can also provide helpful advice and information.

Published on: 14 April, 2025