Rural Support Plan 2026-2031
Date published: 24 March, 2026
What is the Rural Support Plan?
The Rural Support Plan 2026-2031 sets out our commitments over the next five years to provide a period of certainty, investment and preparation. It reinforces our approach of partnership working with rural stakeholders to ensure changes in support, work for our farmers, crofters and land managers. It makes clear, that it is active farmers and crofters who will receive continued investment and support to deliver Scotland’s Vision for Agriculture.
Why have we created this?
Laying and publishing a five-year plan is a requirement of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 (“the ARC Act”). The Plan maps current support from legacy Common Agricultural Policy support, the Scottish Rural Development Programme and other schemes, into the new four-tier framework, which will be delivered using the ARC Act powers.
Tier 1: Base and Tier 2: Enhanced are direct payments
- Tier 1: Base will provide direct payments to support active farming. Scottish Government will start off using the current Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and develop this over time. Receiving this support will require meeting what will be called essential standards (e.g. Cross Compliance, Whole Farm Plan).
- Tier 2: Enhanced will support farmers and crofters whose agricultural practices do even more for climate and nature. Measure will be designed to be integrated alongside existing farming systems supporting continuity of sustainable food production. It will build on the standards established in Tier 1 and provide additional measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore and improve nature for those who opt to go further.
Tier 3: Elective and Tier 4: Complementary are indirect payments
- Tier 3: Elective will support action that creates and/or protects habitats or species or improves business sustainability. It will focus on funding targeted actions for climate change and nature restoration. This could be specific to a particular species or habitat, the creation of new agroforestry systems or woodlands, supporting conversion to alternative forms of agriculture such as organic production, encourage innovation and provide supply chain support. Aspects of Tier 3 will initially be delivered through familiar mechanisms such as AECS, with improvements to the scheme made.
- Tier 4: Complementary will help to grow skills and capabilities. This will include training and advice, including for sustainable and regenerative skills development. It will focus on ensuring applicants are prepared for the suite of management options, new practices, and innovation under Tiers 1-3. Additionally, Tier 4 goes beyond support for agriculture as it also provides for support for community-led approaches in rural and island areas as well as supporting the capacity building and networking of rural communities
How did we create this?
The Plan was written in collaboration with the agricultural industry. Significant co-development and engagement on agricultural reform, with stakeholders and user research with farmers and crofters, has taken place to shape this plan. The Agricultural Reform Programme will continue to co-develop the detail of future support with rural partners to ensure a just transition and support those farming sustainably.
What are the benefits?
The Plan will detail support available to help farmers and crofters meet the following objectives of Scottish agricultural policy:
- the adoption and use of sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices
- the production of high-quality food
- the promotion and support of agricultural practices that protect and improve animal health and welfare
- the facilitation of on-farm nature restoration, climate mitigation and adaption, and
- enabling rural communities to thrive.
Rural Support Plan 2026-2031 – Annex - Support within the Four Tier Framework