Rural Payments and Services

We will transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

We will establish a robust and coherent framework to underpin Scotland's future agriculture support regime from 2025 onwards, that delivers high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature restoration. High quality, nutritious food locally and sustainably produced is key to our wellbeing – in economic, environmental, social and health terms. We will support and work with farmers and crofters to meet more of our own food needs sustainably and to farm and croft with nature.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that tenant farmers, smallholders, crofters, new entrants and land managers are given equality of opportunity to allow them to play a key role in making our Vision for Agriculture a reality.

We continue to work closely with the agriculture industry, most notably through the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB) and other industry stakeholder groups, to meet our shared objectives, and to build on the excellent work completed by the successful Farmer-Led Groups (FLGs) initiative.

This edition of the Agricultural Reform Route Map shows the changes recipients of agricultural support will be expected to make in 2025 and what to expect in 2026. It includes information on important dates when current schemes will transition or end, the support available, and how to prepare for these first changes from 2025. The changes are gradual – I promised no cliff edges, and there will be none. While direct payments will continue, some of the changes mean doing more in return for that support.

We will continue our significant engagement programme to reach as many people as possible, as early as possible to start getting ready for change. There are information leaflets and we will be working with key stakeholder bodies like NFU Scotland, the Scottish Tenant Farmers’ Association, the Scottish Beef Association, QMS and the Scottish Crofting Federation to get information to as many farmers and crofters as possible. We will continue to attend agricultural shows and auction marts this year.

The Route Map will be updated regularly to provide the most up-to-date information possible. As things change, I will ensure that farmers and crofters are informed as early as possible.

Mairi Gougeon

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands

From 2025 support framework will be aimed at delivering against the following five outcomes with at least half of all funding targeted towards outcomes for biodiversity gain and climate mitigation and adaption.

• High Quality Food Production - the primary food production sector is a productive sector of the economy and ensures we meet more of our own food needs more sustainably
• Thriving Agricultural Businesses - profitable and resilient agricultural businesses support local livelihoods, supply chains and the wider rural economy
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation - greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector are reduced in line with the CCP, and the ability to adapt to climate change is increased
• Nature Restoration - there will be substantial regeneration in, and maintenance of, biodiversity, ecosystem, and soil health on agricultural land
• Support for a Just Transition

You can find out more about the broad types of actions that may be required in the future to access in the Agriculture Reform List of Measures. It’s not a final list of measures but has examples to help the agriculture sector to plan for future changes.

More detailed information on the conditions for support and guidance will be published over the next two years and key dates are set out in the When will I get more information to help me plan? section.

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The text below, explains a bit more about the four tiers:

Tier 1: ‘Base Level Direct Payment’ - a universal, entry-level payment for undertaking agricultural activity while meeting minimum essential standards in relation to sustainable farming activities, protecting the environment, animal health and welfare and ensuring Fair Work. These standards will help to make businesses more efficient. Existing cross-compliance conditions will be maintained as a minimum in the new support framework and will apply across all tiers but may be delivered differently.

Tier 2: ‘Enhanced Level Direct Payment’ - a universally accessible payment that supplements Base. This is for applicants delivering Base requirements and undertaking further activity that delivers outcomes for nature and climate improvement, including recognition of wider land management.

Find out more about what is being proposed for inclusion in the guidance on the List of Measures.

Tier 3: ‘Elective Payment’ - a competitive or non-universal (criteria dependent) range of payments for targeted actions and undertakings on particular habitats, and for defined species, and support for wider business sustainability to deliver nature and climate outcomes included in the Vision for Agriculture.

Tier 4: ‘Complementary Support’ - provision of support for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), advice, knowledge exchange and linkages to wider land management support from Scottish Government officials and/or public partners.

The existing framework of support will continue in 2024 to provide security and stability to farmers and crofters.

Changes to existing schemes will begin in 2025 with further changes to be introduced in 2026 to move towards the new support framework. Existing application methods like the Single Application Form will continue in 2025, 2026 and 2027. This means that the way you apply for and claim support and the current timetable for submission and payments is expected to continue over the next 3 years.

This chapter sets out what that means for the current schemes, when they will change and what can be done now to prepare.

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See the information below for more detail by scheme.

Preparing for Sustainable Farming

From 2025, new conditions will start to be introduced to; help businesses start to lower their emissions, introduce different ways of farming which are more low carbon, and increase the efficiency of farming activity. The work we are doing now to help farmers and crofters to prepare for these changes now is called Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF).

PSF support includes:

• financial support for farmers and crofters (arable land & improved grassland) to claim support towards the cost of soil analysis
• £500 towards having a Carbon Audit performed for farming businesses if they do not have one already, or where the current Carbon Audit is more than 3 years old
• up to a maximum of £1,250 over two years to deliver a list of animal health and welfare measures

This PSF support is transitional – it is aimed at helping farmers and crofters make a Just Transition and prepare for the new future support framework. From 2025 soil testing and carbon audits will be part of the foundations of the Whole Farm Plan.

Basic Payment Scheme

Basic Payment Scheme will remain in place in 2025, 2026 and 2027 providing base level direct payments. The existing eligibility requirements and scheme rules will be built upon to deliver against the vision for agriculture.

New conditions will be introduced to the Basic Payment Scheme in 2025 through the foundations of the Whole Farm Plan and new Cross Compliance conditions.

The current region model will remain in place in 2025 and 2026. However, it will be reviewed by 2027 to ensure that it is fit for purpose. We will not make changes to the region model without consulting widely on any new proposals first.

No further changes are anticipated in 2026 and any changes made in 2027 will be to support the transition to a more economic and environmentally sustainable model for the industry.

Greening

Greening requirements will not change in 2025.

New Greening Requirements will be introduced in 2026.

These new requirements will form part of the enhanced tier of the future framework. This means that farmers and crofters will be expected to start doing enhanced activities using the existing greening claim process on the Single Application Form.

The existing eligibility requirements and scheme rules will be built upon to deliver further outcomes for nature and climate improvement. Rewarding both new activity and existing good practice.

We will be working with farmers and crofters on the specific changes as part of our commitment to co-designing the framework.

Cross Compliance

Existing cross compliance conditions will be maintained as a minimum in the new support framework and will apply across all tiers. The conditions are being reviewed to identify ways to make them more impactful in the delivery of future policy outcomes.

New conditions will be introduced to Cross Compliance for 2025. These are new peatland and wetland standard which will be added to existing GAEC 6 - Maintenance of soil organic matter. These standards will prohibit a range of activities from being carried out on peatland and wetland areas and include:

• ploughing, cultivations and reseeding
• new drainage and maintenance of existing drainage systems that causes further drying out of the peatland
• application of pesticides and fertilisers including manures, lime and soil conditioners
• creation of new roads and tracks including vehicle rutting exposing the soil.
• activities that cause damage to the vegetation cover exposing the soil
• additionally for wetlands – disruption of connections between rivers/water courses and wetlands (that will lead to the drying of the wetland)

Any new tree planting which could impact peatlands and wetland must follow the UK Forestry Standards.

Exemptions will apply to allow any of these activities to be carried out if they are part of a peatland restoration project or they are given prior written approval.

This will apply to land where the peat depth is at least 50cm peat soils and is associated with semi-natural vegetation or areas of bare peat as well as wetland habitats on uncultivated or semi-natural land.

A Peatland Areas mapping layer has been added to the RP&S Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) viewer which gives farmers and crofters and indication if they have any peatland within their farm/croft boundary.

More information can be found in the scheme guidance.

The Whole Farm Plan

The more you understand about your farm or croft, the more productive and profitable your business can be, and the more you can contribute to Scotland’s climate, biodiversity and emissions targets. This is the foundation of the Whole Farm Plan. The Whole Farm Plan will be a condition of future support and will support our farmers and crofters to take a holistic view of their farm or croft.

To prepare for the Whole Farm Plan, and as part of our commitment to enhance conditionality, in 2025, in return for your basic payments, you will be expected to have started carrying out plans and audits that are relevant to your business. You will be asked to confirm on your 2025 SAF that you have done at least two of these activities:

Carbon audit	all conducted within the five year period before May 2025
Biodiversity audit
Soil analysis
Animal health and welfare plan	which will be renewed annually
Integrated pest management plan

You may already have some of these plans and audits in place – through your quality assurance or supply chain contracts, or as part of your normal business planning. If so, and these meet the minimum standards, you can simply confirm this activity as part of your 2025 SAF.

If you haven’t done at least two of these activities yet, remember grants are still available, through Preparing for Sustainable Farming, to do carbon audits and soil analysis. If you act now, while support is available, you will be prepared for 2025. You can also use free resources such as the Scottish Integrated Pest Management Assessment plan to create an IPM plan and the Scottish Animal Health Planning System to create an animal health and welfare plan.

These changes are designed to help all our farmers and crofters do more to produce food sustainably, to cut emissions and to farm more for nature. And we need everyone to get involved and start preparing now for change.

View detailed guidance on all of these changes, including the minimum standards of each of the plans and audits on the Whole Farm Plan guidance page.

Practical advice on how to make the most of your plans and audits can be found on the Farm Advisory Service website.

More information about further action farmers and crofters will need to take in 2026 and beyond will be announced in summer 2025. All businesses will be expected to have all of the plans and audits relevant to their business activities in place by 2028 at the latest. We will add Nutrient Management Plans to the Whole Farm Plan by 2028, with the details developed through our co-design approach.

More information can be found in the scheme guidance.

Voluntary Coupled Support

Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS)

New conditions will be introduced to SSBSS in 2025, linked to calving interval performance, which aims to encourage beef producers to undertake steps that will help to reduce the emissions' intensity of their cattle production systems and make them more financially efficient.

The free-to-use MyHerdStats tool allows farmers and crofters to view performance indicators for their herds, allowing them to identify opportunities for improvements to herd efficiency, including calving intervals.

From 2025 onwards, calves will only be eligible for a SSBSS payment if their dam has a calving interval threshold of 410 days or less, or if the calf is the first registered birth associated with that dam. This condition is designed to help balance productivity and profitability with the opportunity to address climate impact of emissions.

The calving interval threshold may reduce in future years, but it will not reduce by more than 10 days in any given year. Details will be provided in advance of any future change to the calving interval threshold.

Calving interval is a key efficiency metric for beef production systems and longer calving intervals equate to longer periods during which a cow is incurring maintenance costs (e.g. feed, veterinary care) but also emitting greenhouse gases without contributing to actual beef production. The mean calving interval of suckler beef in Scotland is currently c.400 days, and 12% of animals have a calving interval of 430 days or more. (Information taken from Calving Intervals in Scotland's Cattle Population report).

The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis not on herd averages. Offspring of cattle with an established calving interval of more than 410 days will not receive a payment. The first calves registered to any dam will be exempt from the calving interval threshold so will remain eligible for payment provided that all other scheme conditions are met.

It is intended that the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme will continue until at least 2028. This will allow time for the calving interval conditionality to become established within the scheme.

Additionally, to illustrate the impact of the changes to stakeholders, Scottish Government commissioned SRUC to produce a report providing analysis on the impact a 410 day calving interval condition would have had on the payment rates in previous scheme years.

The 410 day calving interval report explores how the application of a condition, if applied to historic scheme years, would have theoretically impacted payment rates. The report illustrates that the payment rate per calf would have been higher due to the lower number of eligible calves.

This report highlights that in 2023, 87.4% of total dams met the 410 day calving interval. Therefore in a historical context if the condition were applied in 2023 then a business with 87% eligible calves would have received a similar amount of funding from the scheme. The report also illustrates that businesses performing above the national average would have received additional funding.

More information on the scheme can be found via the frequently asked questions.

Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS)

SUSSS is expected to continue in 2025 and 2026 but may be delivered using a different model from the current one.

Consideration is still being given to how Voluntary Coupled Support will be delivered from 2027.

Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS)

This scheme is expected to continue to at least 2026. We are working with stakeholders on how best to deliver this type of support under the new framework. Changes may be introduced to support the transition toward a more economically and environmentally sustainable model for the farmers and crofters who need this sort of support the most. It is expected that in the future this funding will be made available through Tier 2.

Agri Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS)

This scheme is expected to continue to 2026 to deliver elements of Tiers 3 and 4 until new Elective and Complementary Support mechanisms are introduced. Some of the options currently available through AECS are being considered for inclusion in Tier 2 over time so that more people can implement them. Changes may be made to the scoring, budgets or options to support a Just Transition towards a more economically and environmentally sustainable model for the sector.

Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS)

This scheme is expected to evolve and continue to deliver elements of Tier 3 and 4 until new Elective and Complementary Support mechanisms are introduced. Some of the options available under this scheme are being considered for inclusion as eligible measures/activities in Tier 2 over time so that more people can implement them. Changes may be made to the scoring, budgets or options to support a Just Transition toward a more economically and environmentally sustainable model for the sector.

Targeted Capital Support - Agricultural Transformation Fund, Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme, Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF), and Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation (FPMC)

These schemes will continue until 2026 and will deliver Tier 3 and 4 of the Future Support Framework until new Elective and Complimentary Support mechanisms are introduced. We may make changes to the scoring, budgets or options available under these schemes so that they support the transition towards a more economic and sustainable model for the sector.

Farm Advisory Service

The Farm Advisory Service will continue to deliver information and resources aimed at increasing the profitability and sustainability of farms and crofts. It will deliver elements of Tier 4 of the Future Support Framework until new Complementary Support mechanisms are introduced.

Your schemes aren’t changing in 2025, but some of the things you will have to do to receive support are new. This page contains the information you need to start preparing for those changes now.

Cross Compliance

New conditions will be introduced to Cross Compliance for 2025. These are new peatland and wetland standards which will be added to existing GAEC 6 - maintenance of soil organic matter. These standards will prohibit a range of activities from being carried out on peatland and wetland areas and include:

• ploughing, cultivations and reseeding
• new drainage and maintenance of existing drainage systems that causes further drying out of the peatland
• application of pesticides, fertilisers including manure, lime and soil conditioners
• creation of new roads and tracks including vehicle rutting exposing the soil.
• activities that cause damage to the vegetation cover exposing the soil
• additionally for wetlands – disruption of connections between rivers/water courses and wetlands (that will lead to the drying of the wetland)

Any new tree planting which could impact peatlands and wetland must follow the UK Forestry Standards.

Exemptions will apply to allow any of these activities to be carried out if they are part of a peatland restoration project or they are given prior written approval.

This will apply to land where the peat depth is at least 50cm peat soils and is associated with semi-natural vegetation or areas of bare peat as well as wetland habitats on uncultivated or semi-natural land.

A Peatland Areas mapping layer has been added to the RP&S LPIS viewer which gives farmers and crofters and indication if they have any peatland within their farm/croft boundary.

More information can be found in the scheme guidance.

Voluntary Coupled Support: Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS)

As of 2025, a new condition will be added to the SSBSS which will stipulate that calves will only be eligible for payment if their dam has a calving interval threshold of 410 days or less, or if the calf is the first registered birth associated with that dam. The calving interval threshold may reduce in future years, but it will not reduce by more than 10 days in any given year. Details will be provided in advance of any future change to the calving interval threshold.

The Scottish Government has worked with the beef sector and reviewed industry data to develop detailed proposals for introducing a calving interval condition and how they will be implemented.

All animals claimed from the 2025 scheme year onward will be subject to the new calving interval conditions, regardless of their year of birth.

More information on the scheme can be found via the frequently asked questions.

Start Preparing for the Whole Farm Plan

To prepare for the Whole Farm Plan, and as part of our commitment to enhanced conditionality, in 2025, in return for your basic payments, you will be expected to have started carrying out plans and audits that are relevant to your business. You must have in place by 15 May 2025 at least two of the below plans and audits. These must meet the minimum standards set out in guidance. You must confirm this as part of your 2025 SAF. You are free to pick which of the below plans and audits you undertake first.

Carbon audit	all conducted within the five year period before May 2025
Biodiversity audit
Soil analysis
Animal health and welfare plan	which will be renewed annually
Integrated pest management plan

You may already have some of these plans and audits in place – through your quality assurance or supply chain contracts, or as part of your normal business planning. If so, and these meet the minimum standards, you can simply confirm this activity on your 2025 SAF.

If you haven’t done at least two of these activities yet, remember grants are still available through Preparing for Sustainable Farming, to do carbon audits and soil analysis. If you act now, while support is available, you will be prepared for 2025. You can use free resources such as the Scottish Integrated Pest Management Assessment plan and the Scottish Animal Health Planning System to create an animal health and welfare plan.

You can also find practical advice on how to make the most of these plans and audits to improve your business practices on the Farm Advisory Service website.

These changes are designed to help all our farmers and crofters do more to produce food sustainably, to cut emissions and to farm more for nature. And we need everyone to get involved and start preparing now for change.

Detailed guidance on what is required for 2025 can be viewed on the Whole Farm plan guidance page.

To find out more on how to prepare for changes in 2025, you can download our information leaflets below.

The diagram below is designed to help farmers and crofters plan for future changes to the agricultural support framework. It outlines key dates when further information and guidance will be available from 2023 until the end of 2025.

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Getting your help in the design of new services is a central principle of Scottish Government policy development and delivery.

This means:

• providing multiple opportunities to participate;
• using inclusive and accessible research and design methods;
• designing the framework around the people who will use it;
• making sure everyone can use the service;
• reviewing and improving the service frequently.

Volunteers can register their interest to participate in research that will help shape future changes to ensure they work for all those affected. Opportunities will include interviews, surveys, online and in-person workshops, testing and trials. Volunteers will be reimbursed for participating with the amount depending on the time and input required. Anyone can register interest using the form below:

Register your interest form

The questionnaire asks for information including name, contact details, BRN number (if you have one) and preferences for the type of activity you would like to participate in. Filling in the form is simply a registration of interest and does not commit you to taking part in any of the research activities that are offered.

By registering your interest, you can be part of Scottish Government’s continuing work with the agricultural sector to help shape future support and how it is delivered.

Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF)

Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) is already helping businesses prepare for these changes with support for conducting carbon audits and soil sampling, support for animal health and welfare activities and access to herd data for Suckler beef producers through MyHerdStats.

Carbon audits and soil sampling

The first part of the programme, launched in 2022, is designed to help businesses understand carbon emissions and sequestration; and potentially lower emissions and increase sequestration and efficiencies. This is done through carbon audits and soil sampling and analysis.

Businesses can claim a standard cost of £500 for an eligible Carbon Audit that will:

• enable a business to understand their energy use and costs;
• identify ways to use resources more efficiently;
• understand their carbon footprint;
• highlight areas to focus on carbon emission reductions and opportunities to sequestrate carbon.

Businesses can claim actual costs of up to £600 per 100 Ha of Region 1 land for Soil Sampling that will:

• measure the nutrient content of the soil;
• identify nutrient deficiencies;
• reduce unnecessary maintenance practices and fertiliser applications;
• target application for crop production;
• build a Nutrient Management Plan;
• save time and money.

A standard £250 Development Payment can also be paid with the first Soil Sampling claim to allow farmers and crofters to spend time on things that will widen their understanding of Nutrient Management Planning and the associated activities. For example:

• researching best practice for soil sampling and nutrient management;
• referring to technical notes;
• taking professional advice;
• attending monitor farm updates;
• attend meetings regarding soil structure, nutrient usage and green manures.

Support for animal health and welfare

Support is now available to directly support farmers to deliver a list of animal health and welfare measures. Eligible businesses can claim standard costs up to a maximum of £1,250 over two years.

MyHerdStats

Information is also available to cattle keepers through MyHerdStats. This is a an online tool that securely presents herd management information within the ScotEID system, utilising existing login details. It provides cattle keepers with a consistent and accurate insight into their herd performance to help highlight opportunities to improve business and environmental benefits. Cattle keepers can gain access to a selection of herd performance indicators and trends on metrics including:

• percentage of cows retained;
• number of calves registered;
• number of cows calved;
• values of cow and heifer efficiency;
• cow and calf mortalities;
• sale date profile for breeding and youngstock.

Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)

The 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.

The 2023 Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) application round ran from 30 January to 7 June 2023 with funding available for slurry stores, organic conversion and maintenance and agri-environment options.

Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS)

Scotland’s woodlands and forests are a vital national resource and play an important role in rural development and sustainable land use.

As well as helping to reduce the impacts of climate change and providing timber for industry, our forests enhance and protect the environment and provide opportunities for public enjoyment.

The 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
• the sustainable management of existing woodlands

Peatland ACTION

Peatland ACTION supports on-the-ground peatland restoration activities and is open for applications from eligible land managers who have peatlands that would benefit from restoration. There are no geographical restriction or target areas for Peatland ACTION funding.

Nature Restoration Fund

The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is a competitive fund launched in July 2021, which specifically aims to attract applicants with projects that restore wildlife and habitats on land and sea, and address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Farm Advisory Service (FAS)

Scotland's Farm Advisory Service (FAS) is funded by the Scottish Government, providing information and resources aimed at increasing the profitability and sustainability of farms and crofts.

Grant support, a full programme of events, a subscription service for crofts and small farms, and a range of articles and publications form the core of this service which is designed to provide integrated advice for farmers and crofters across Scotland.

Integrating Tree Network

Integating Trees on Your Land Network which covers the benefits that trees can bring to farming businesses. This network will host events for all farmers and crofters across Scotland and bring them together, along with experts, to share their practical knowledge, experiences and advice about the processes, objectives, challenges and outcomes of planting trees.

Monitor Farm Scotland

The Monitor Farm Scotland initiative is managed by Quality Meat Scotland and AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds with funding from the Scottish Government, aiming to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.

The aim of the programme is to establish a group of farms to serve as monitor farms to help improve the profitability, productivity and sustainability of producers through practical demonstrations, the sharing of best practice and the discussion of up-to-date issues.

Section	Change
Whole document	This version of the route map has been updated to make it a shorter and more practical document, written more plainly. Updated diagrams to make them clearer. More information about what will be expected in 2025 has been added and the Agriculture Bill Consultation report has been published.
When will I get more information to help me plan?	Added new information to the diagram.

Glossary of terms mentioned in the Route Map and List of Measures guidance.