Agriculture Reform Glossary

Date published: 22 June, 2023

Table of Contents



Term Definition
Appraisals In the context of the list of measures, an examination of their value for wider rollout
Co-design Co-design will allow those with an interest in future agricultural policy to share their views and ideas on the development of the Agriculture Reform Programme. After the Royal Highland Show, the Scottish Government will provide a way to sign up to register interest of those wishing to be involved.
Conditionality In relation to the new Agricultural Support framework, Conditionality relates to businesses' respective climate and biodiversity mitigation(s) which need to be met in order to receive support payments.
Continuous Professional Development Continued Professional Development (CPD) is a system which allows individuals to maintain and/or improve their skills, knowledge, expereince and understanding by way of tracking or documenting learning activities that they have undertaken.
Descriptor The descriptor for each measure provides a more detailed and practical explanation of the measure and how and where it should be implemented on the farm. Where appropriate, it considers how the measure is complemented with other measures within the package and whether they can be integrated. Descriptors present an accessible view of the particular measure, its take up and wider use.
Direct Payments Direct Payments form an important part of the rural economy, providing income support to farmers, encouraging environmental benefits and bringing security and stability to Scotland's food production chain. They are paid to everyone who qualifies and currently done so via the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening.
Essential standards Tier 1 (Base) sets essential standards (cross-compliance, greening, whole farm plan) to establish eligible applicants for support and to ensure appropriate activity, climate, biodiversity and business efficiency outcomes. These standards also protect the interests of workers in the sector and safeguard animal health and welfare practices on farms and crofts.
Evaluation In the context of the framework, making an assessment of where measures are best placed within the tiers.
Measure Measures are the activities being considered for inclusion in the future support framework. For each measure, a short high-level descriptor identifies the plan or course of action to achieve a particular outcome. A measure may relate to one or a series of actions or sub-measures.
Outcomes and Objectives Outcomes are what we want to achieve and objectives are the steps we need to take to get there.
Package A package defines a group of related and complementary measures that can deliver towards the outcome. While an individual measure may not lead to significant change on its own, when packaged with other measures it could lead to significant cumulative benefit for climate and biodiversity.
User testing In the context of future agricultural support, user testing is a technique to monitor and evaluate through direct engagement with individual farmers and crofters. User testing is being undertaken with participants from the Testing for Sustainable Farming survey regarding the proposed list of measures.

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Term Definition
Calving Interval Calving Interval (CI) is a measure of cow fertility and is a possible condition that may be attached to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme
Cross Compliance Cross Compliance is a set of rules made up of Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs). These requirements are about how you manage your business and cover environment, public, plant and animal health and animal welfare. These rules apply to claimants of rural payments and typically include inspections. Non-compliance can lead to penalties.
Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) An Ecological focus Area (EFA) is an area of land upon which agricultural practices are carried out which are environmentally beneficial.
Enteric methane This is the methane generated by ruminants (including sheep and cattle) when they digest food. Emissions as a result of enteric methane are the single largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions in beef and dairy value chains and a substantial contributor to agricultural methane emissions globally.
Good Agricultural and Evironmental Conditions Agricultural management standards for safeguarding soils, watercourses, habitats and landscape features.
Greening Greening has been part of direct payment support to farmers and crofters since 2015. The requirements vary depending on agricultural practices undertaken by a business but help to deliver environmental and climate change benefits. For complying with Greening regulations, farmers receive an additional payment on top of the Basic Payment Scheme.
Greenhouse gases (GHG) The GHG inventory covers the seven direct greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
Just Transition A fairer, greener future for all - the process that must be undertaken in partnership with those impacted by the transition to net zero. It supports a net zero and climate resilient economy in a way that delivers fairness and tackles inequaity and injustice.
Methanogenesis A term usually associated with anaerobic digestion involving the breakdown of organic matter by bacteria in the absence of oxygen to produce methane gas.
MyHerdStats MyHerdStats, developed by ScotEID, is a software tool that uses statutory cattle traceability data to provide cattle keepers with an insight into their herd performance. This can help highlight opportunities to improve business and environmental benefits.
Net Zero Net Zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with statutory obligations within Scotland's Climate Change Act, 2019. The Scottish Government response to the emergency target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030 and further details can be found on the Scottish Government website.
Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) is a support programme to help prepare farmers and crofters for the future agriculture support framework. It includes support for conducting carbon audits, soil analysis (identifying recommendations that can lower these emissions and increase efficiencies), herd management and animal health and welfare activities.
Productivity baselines In the context of the Whole Farm Plan, ways of assessing the relevant farm/croft performance.
Regenerative Agriculture Regenerative agriculture is a collection of farming practices with a focus on renewing and conserving soils, landscapes and ecosystems. The method supports nature and social justice in rural communities alongside agricultural outputs. It draws upon decades of scientific and applied research on agriculture and ecology. Key practices include minimising soil disturbance, and maximising crop diversity. Another approach is to integrate livestock and arable faring more closely.

The goals of regenerative agriculture include: improving animal welfare, increasing climate-resilience of production, capturing carbon in soils and vegetation, enhancing water quality and supply in the landscape as well as supporting thriving biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Regenerative agriculture recognises that each farm has different soils, climate, managers, and history. For that reason, there is no definitive list of methods or actions. Instead, farmers and crofters decide the best approaches to achieve desired outcomes. Their choices need to be supported by practical training to select and use these methods effectively.
Statutory Management Requirements Agricultural management standards for protecting habitats and wildlife, managing soil and water, controlling chemical use and animal health, welfare and identification.
Sustainable Farming Standards Adopting regenerative agriculture principles and approaches, using tools such as carbon audits and soil testing to inform practice change.
Testing Actions for Sustainable Farming (TSF) Testing Actions for Sustainable Farming is the programme to understand and test the feasibility and impact of activities and measures that are being considered for inclusion in the future agriculture support framework.
Three Region Model Direct Payments (Basic Payment Scheme and Greening) will be paid on an area basis to reflect the variation in land quality across Scotland. Each land parcel will be allocated a Payment Region:
- Region One: This includes better quality agricultural land that has been used for arable cropping, temporary grass and permanent grass;
- Region Two: This includes rough grazing with a Less Favoured Areas (LFA) grazing category of B, C, D or non-LFA;
- Region Three: This includes rough grazing with an LFA grazing category A
Whole Farm Plan Whole Farm Plans are a tool to support businesses integrate food production, climate and biodiversity activities on their holdings. They will support all businesses to meet good practice and essential standards to ensure climate, biodiversity, and business efficiency outcomes.

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Term Definition
Base (Tier 1) A universal agricultural support payment for farmers and crofters engaged in food production and actively managing the land. This will be based on a minimum standard set of requirements (essential standards) for safeguarding environmental, animal health & welfare, worker rights and business planning.
Enhanced (Tier 2) A universally accessible support payment to supplement the Tier 1 support for recipients who go beyond the Base requirements and in so doing deliver greater climate and nature outcomes. Eligibility is dependent upon successful undertaking of Tier 1 and demonstrating sufficient contribution against Tier 2 requirements to be eligible for an Enhanced payment.
Elective (Tier 3) A blend of both competitive and non-universal (criteria dependent) support for individuals, co-operatives, or groups to implement targeted actions to address climate change, nature restoration, innovation and supply chain resilience. Grants for farmers and crofters will be available to invest in equipment for reducing emissions or other key policy aims. Forestry grants and peatland restoration funding is included in this tier to provide the link with agriculture policy and the options available for funding land management.
Complementary (Tier 4) This will complement the support Government is providing elsewhere with access to continuous professional development, provision of advice and support to help implement actions for climate, nature, innovation and improving the food and drink supply chain.

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Term Definition
Agri Environment Climate Scheme AECS promotes land management practices which protect and enhance Scotland's biodiversity, improve water quality, manage flood risk and mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Agricultural Transformation Fund ATF is intended to underpin support for the agricultural sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve efficiency and enhance Scotland's natural environment through the period of transition.
Basic Payment Scheme BPS is paid to farmers and crofters for actively farmed lands and acts as a safety net by supplementing their main business income. It aims to maintain resilient and profitable farm businesses which are able to withstand market and climate change impacts on production.
Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme This schemes provides grants for crofters to make improvements to their crofts and help to sustain their businesses.
Farm Advisory Service FAS aims to facilitate increased economic and environmental performance of farmers and crofters through provision of advice, collaboration with industry bodies, promotion and communication of best practice.
Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation This scheme provides grant funding to businesses within the Scottish food and drink sector, and supports Scotland's journey towards becoming a Good Food Nation, where it is second nature to produce, buy, serve and eat fresh, healthy food. However, due to budgetary pressures, the Scheme will not run in 2023/24.
Forestry Grant Scheme FGS supports the creation of new woodlands - contributing towards the Scottish Government target of 18,000 hectares of new woodlands per year from 2024/25 - and the sustainable management of existing woodlands in Scotland.
Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund KTIF aims to promote skills development and knowledge transfer in the primary agricultural sector through providing funding to organisations to deliver vocational training, coaching, workshops, courses and farm visits designed to develop skills and transfer knowledge.
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme LFASS provides essential income support to farming businesses in remote and constrained rural areas to ensure continued and sustainable viability, avoid land abandonment and promote sustainable farming systems.
Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (Mainland and Islands) This scheme helps maintain beef suckler herds at a level that sustains the commercial beef industry in Scotland. The support provided aims to assist the environmmental and social benefits that arise from extensive beef suckler herds.
Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme This scheme provides additional support, on top of the Basic Payment Scheme, to sheep producers who farm in Scotland's rough grazing areas. These payments aim to help farmers maintain the social and environmental benefits that sheep flocks bring to those areas.
Voluntary Coupled Support VCS offers a limited amount of income support paymentsto certain sectors or products, subject to various conditions and strict limits to mitigate the risk of market distortion.

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The future of agricultural support