Whole Farm Plan quick guide
What you need to know
In 2025, new rules will apply to agricultural payments in Scotland. One of these changes is the introduction of the Whole Farm Plan.
You should take action now to make sure you are ready for 2025.
Why are we introducing the Whole Farm Plan?
We want farmers and crofters to be productive and profitable. You can produce high quality food while becoming more sustainable.
The Whole Farm Plan will support you to do this. It will help you to get a better picture of how efficient your business is today so you can look for improvements.
That could include opportunities to become more efficient and to cut emissions.
What is a Whole Farm Plan?
A Whole Farm Plan is a way of measuring the impact of your farm or croft. We are asking farmers and crofters to measure and consider how they can improve:
- the emissions from their business
- the environmental condition of their farms and crofts and
- the health and welfare of their livestock
- their use of fertilisers and pesticides
This can help you to find ways to make your farm or croft more efficient, productive and profitable.
We want the Whole Farm Plan to grow over time so that it will help you make further improvements.
What you need to do
There are five parts to the Whole Farm Plan. In 2025, if you want to receive a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment, you will have to have completed at least two of them. You will have to say which ones you have completed when you fill out your single application form.
While everyone has to do at least two by 15 May 2025, it is up to you to decide which ones you want to do now. Some of them are relevant to everyone that claims support. Others only apply to farmers and crofters that undertake certain activities.
The table below shows which audits and plans are relevant to different types of farmers and crofters.
| Type of audit/plan | Who is it for? |
|---|---|
| Biodiversity audit | All farmers and crofters |
| Carbon audit | All farmers and crofters |
| Integrated pest management plan | Farmers and crofters that use pesticides and herbicides |
| Soil analysis | Farmers and crofters that claim Region 1 land and apply artificial fertilisers and/or organic manures to it |
| Animal health and welfare plan | Farmers and crofters that keep livestock |
You may already have some of these plans and audits in place. If you do, and if they meet the minimum standards, you won’t need to take any further action.
You can find out more about the minimum standards in the scheme guidance.
Support to help you with your Whole Farm Plan
We currently provide financial support to help you get ready. This support is called Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF). You can apply for a grant to help you with:
- Carbon Audits
- Soil Sampling and Analysis
You can find out more information and apply on the PSF page.
What to do next
If you have not already done so, you should begin to complete your Whole Farm Plan.
There is lots of information and help available to support you.
The Farm Advisory Service has created an online guide on how to get ready for 2025. It includes advice, videos and Frequently Asked Questions.
We have published scheme guidance. This is the full list of rules that apply to Whole Farm Plans.
The Plant Health Centre has created a free tool that can help you create an Integrated Pest Management plan.
Talk to us
If you have any questions and would like to speak to someone, you can contact your local area office.