Whole Farm Plan quick guide

The Whole Farm Plan is a way of measuring how efficient your current agricultural practices are.

It can help you find ways to:

  • become more efficient
  • reduce costs
  • cut emissions, and
  • improve biodiversity

The Whole Farm Plan applies to all agricultural businesses that claim Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

It also applies to new support schemes being introduced from 2025 such as the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS).

By 15 May 2028, the Whole Farm Plan will apply to every agricultural business that claims agricultural support.

There are five parts to the Whole Farm Plan. If you are claiming BPS support, you should complete at least two by 15 May 2026.

This is the same as in 2025. If you carried out two in 2025, and they are still in date on 15 May 2026, you will already meet the 2026 requirements.

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

While everyone who claims BPS in 2026 must do at least two in 2026, 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 agricultural activities.

You may already have some of these audits and plans 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? How often it needs updated
Animal health and welfare plan All farmers and crofters that keep livestock Annual review
Biodiversity audit All farmers and crofters with permanent land Five-year review
Carbon audit All farmers and crofters Five-year review
Integrated Pest Management plan All farmers and crofters that use pesticides and herbicides Annual review
Soil analysis All farmers and crofters that claim Region 1 Land and apply artificial fertilisers and / or organic manures to it Five-year review (every Region 1 field sampled once over a five-year period)

Please remember that you will need to have carried out all the audits and plans that are relevant to your agricultural activities by 15 May 2028.

We provide funding that can you help you meet the requirements of the Whole Farm Plan.

This support is called Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF).

You can claim:

  • financial support towards the cost of soil analysis
  • £500 towards having a Carbon Audit performed

You can also claim support for animal health and welfare interventions:

This is the last year we will offer this support. We encourage you to make use of this support now.

Find out more and apply.

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

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.

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.

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. You will find more information on how to do this in the scheme guidance.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

The future of agricultural support