Rural Payments and Services

Why are you changing the Greening scheme now for 2026?

Answer: As a transition to conditional support, Tier II Enhanced was aligned to the existing Greening scheme where we have started to implement changes to include more customers in the management of arable EFA and additional Policy value added to existing EFA options, with the intent that there will be more changes as transition toward's a new Agricultural Reform Program.

What are the intended benefits of Enhanced Greening?

Answer: By making changes to the current Greening scheme, we are increasing the number of businesses managing EFA and the total area being managed for biodiversity, environmental and climate change benefit.

Can Organic Farmers be deemed compliant / exempt from the Ecological Focus Areas?

Answer: Yes, if they are fully organic, they are deemed compliant. If they are partially organic, they can choose whether to meet the EFA Rules on their Organic land or just on their non-organic area.

Who have you worked with to develop the changes to Greening?

Answer: Enhanced Greening has been co-developed with the industry engaging with ARIOB members, the Food and Agriculture Stakeholder Taskforce (FAST), NatureScot, NFU, Policy Development group and a range of industry groups representing the wide range of business types including crofting.

Where can I find out more details about Enhanced Greening?

Answer: Detailed information is available on the Rural Payment Services - all schemes

I am a seasonal tenant; will these new commitments impact me?

Answer: If you claim BPS and more than 15 ha of the claim is for arable land (including TGRS) this land will be considered in the EFA calculations, and you will have to manage EFA to receive your full Greening payment.

In this currently uncertain world and with even less self-sufficiency in food in this country should we be encouraging lower food production through higher areas in EFA's?

Answer: The current changes allow additional flexibility to the customers adding more species types and continuing to allow EFA requirements to be met with limited impact to production due to the range of EFA options available. It is important that farmers and crofter recognise the requirement to justify the funding that they receive but we must continue to balance the policy benefit gained for biodiversity and climate change alongside our commitment to support Thriving agricultural businesses and high quality food production as detailed in the Vision for agriculture.

Is Greening EFA just set a side?

Answer: No, EFA is about improving the biodiversity of your land, and we have options that support production, improving soil structure, water quality as well as recognising bio-diversity features that you may already have like hedges.

How long is it envisaged the scheme will be in place for, I need the detail before I invest in trees or creating an option aimed for multi-year?

Answer: At this point we cannot confirm a closing date for the scheme or give any long-term commitment other than we would not be making these changes for 2026 if the intent were to close within a couple of years.

I only have seasonal land therefore low-density trees would not be allowed unless my landlord agrees.

Answer: There are Nine other options to choose from that would be more suitable for seasonal land other than planting trees

Enhanced Greening grassland guidance has changed, are we required to make changes based on this guidance?

Answer: The changes to the grassland guidance are to highlight what other businesses are doing, which may be different to your current grassland management practice. We are asking you to start looking to see if there are areas you can change to make your business more efficient and/ or better for the environment to start preparing for changes that will be coming in future years.

What is an Ecological Focus Area?

Answer: An Ecological Focus Area is an area of land upon which you carry out agricultural practices that are beneficial for the climate and the environment. The main aim of an EFA is to improve biodiversity. There are seven existing EFA options that can be used on their own or in combination to meet the EFA requirement and 4 new EFA options:

• Fallow land
• Margins
• Catch crops
• Green cover
• Nitrogen-fixing crops
• Hedges
• Agro forestry
• Herb and legume rich pastures
• Unharvested crop
• Low input Grassland
• Low Density trees

I only have Temporary grassland, which is defined as arable under the scheme guidance, will I have to manage arable EFA? I was previously exempt.

Answer: The EFA rules from 2015-2025 previously deemed most grassland farmers and crofters compliant with Greening have been changed. The new rule from 2026 forwards is, if you have more that 15ha of arable land (including TGRS) you must manage an area equivalent to 5% of your arable area as an EFA to receive your full Enhanced Greening Payment.

Livestock farmers who depend on straw from limited arable area and fodder will have to take some of that ground out of production to meet this new requirement.

Answer: We have added flexibility within existing and added new EFA options more focused on businesses of this type, there is a new option Herb and Legume rich grassland that still allow production and there is a range of options, for example hedges and margins that will have limited impact.

What area do I have to manage?

Answer: The required managed area of EFA is currently based on 5% of your arable area for 2026, including your Temporary Grassland. Enhanced Greening has a section that fully explains this calculation.

Will this percentage stay at 5%?

Answer: We are implementing a transitional change process therefore the intent is to move to a 7% arable EFA from 2027 onwards.

I have an existing EFA field margin, but it is only two metres wide, is it still eligible?

Answer: The updated guidance is that the minimum width is three metres therefore to make it eligible you must increase the width to at least 3m and ensure the land cover aligns with the new requirements, please refer to the latest published guidance.

I use grassland for EFA fallow, can I still use this area to meet my EFA requirement?

Answer: EFA fallow guidance has been amended but it still allows the use of grassland but there are new requirements to use a more diverse, environmentally beneficial seed mix, there is a choice of species in the EFA Fallow Section. Please refer to the latest published guidance.

Are there restrictions around the number of livestock grazing and times of year? Low input grassland

Answer: No. We tried to avoid these restrictions.

If I claim EFA Agro-forestry and have an FGS contract, for trees on BPS eligible land, can both areas be used to meet my EFA commitment and receive payment for the FGS contract?

Answer: Yes, that is correct. We want to encourage the uptake of agro forestry options but at this point we have had limited claims under EFA.

Would we need to submit the EFA map for Nitrogen fixing crop option to establish where the associated margin is?

Answer: No, producers must retain a copy and make it available on request, this is the same for all EFA options, please refer to the mapping section in the guidance.

Does Arable land include TGRS?

Answer: Yes, TGRS 1 to 5 is counted as arable land in the arable area calculation.

To sow species for options to create a multi-year land cover will likely end up with cover that doesn't enhance biodiversity after the first winter.

Answer: Farmers will be aware of the issues in their own Areas and can select the options that fit best. If multiyear species are not suitable in your area to establish Wild bird seed as an example, you must sow the area annually. Our advice would be to speak to local advisors/ specialists.

Will trees that are already planted be eligible under the low-density tree options e.g., an area planted in 2025?

Answer: Yes, if they are the correct type of tree, density and planted correctly meeting all elements of the options rules, they would be deemed eligible and count towards their EFA commitment.

Will an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be required under the Low-density tree option?

Answer: YES, we refer to the forestry Scotland EIA rules and it will be the customer’s responsibility to ensure an EIA is conducted if the area to be planted is a land type that requires it.

Hedges do not grow in Orkney and other parts of the country and low-density trees will not be an option for these areas.

Answer: There is an expectation that not all EFA options suit every business, but we have extended the offer to ensure that every customer will have at least 3 or 4 options that would suit their business if they were willing to adapt to their business practice.

Customers prefer low Risk options like Fallow as their rules are simple and easy to meet.

Answer: Going forward additional mandatory actions are required on fallow land, it will still be a good option for farmers and crofters, but we hope with the changes in 2026 customers will take the opportunity to relook at all the options and manage what is more suitable for their business type.

The green cover option is not suitable the further North you travel.

Answer: We have reworked the guidance to try and help with this but agree if crops are not removed due to a late harvest there is a risk that you may not manage to establish Green Cover before the 1st of November.

NFIX, it is the requirement for two crops and an associated margin that prevents uptake of this option, why were these elements not removed?

Answer: The benefits that NFIX brings for soil structure and fertility are accepted but to align to other EFA options we require the biodiversity benefit as well therefore having the associated EFA margin which can also be claimed under EFA is a key justification for the option.

What would happen if I had a crop failure, for example I sow wild bird seeds or tried to create herb and legume pasture, but it is not easy to identify the plant types?

Answer: Within the guidance we recommend that you keep seed labels and record sowing dates, this is the type of evidence that we would ask for and as long as you can demonstrate a meaningful attempt at creating the option and delivering the management as per scheme rules, we would normally accept.

NFIX, from a spraying perspective, insecticide is an impact for biodiversity but what concerns is there for fungicide as we would suggest allowing the spraying for brown spot etc. would significantly increase the uptake of these options.

Answer: We have updated guidance for EFA NFIX to allow the use of Fungicide based on feedback from consultants.

Why are we not changing the weightings of some of the existing EFA options, for example EFA Green cover, feels too low at 0.3 where EFA fallow is too high?

Answer: we decided not to change the weightings of existing EFA options to minimise change and confusion, but we have reviewed each option and for example increased the effort required to justify the weighting and for Green cover removed the date that you can allow livestock to graze and included fodder plants to make it more attractive

I have EFA fallow land that is natural regeneration, and I would state that it is diverse grassland?

Answer: If there are species that are defined in the guidance, we would suggest it will be eligible, but the preference would be to have seed labels to justify what you have created but we will perform a visual check at inspection.

Can I fully meet my EFA obligations with hedges?

Answer: If you have enough hedges to meet your requirements that are managed correctly then yes. Our preference to increase the biodiversity would be to manage a range of option but at this point there is no rule enforcing that.

I will have to increase the width of my margin to meet the new 3-metres rule, can I just leave stubble?

Answer: You would be expected to create a diverse grass strip, sow wild bird seed or wildflower on the extended area.

Can is still cut hedges in the restricted months for road safety reasons?

Answer: Yes, normal hedge cutting caveats applied and the main one is for road safety.

Low density trees, how do you measure the planted area?

Answer: If it is a fenced off area, we would measure that area but, in most cases, it will be the managed area so we will use plough lines or equivalent to pick up edge of area being managed, this may require a conversation with the customer.

Due to the timing of this change, we have limited time to implement the change, is there any flexibility?

Answer: Please refer to the guidance but for 2026 we will have introduced flexibility to allow you to create your managed area up to the 15th of July. We will be looking for meaningful attempt to create or start preparing areas, but this is just for 2026, thereafter management dates will apply.

Low input grassland, you must leave un uncut strip if cutting for hay or silage, can this be grazed or does it have to be fenced off?

Answer: If you decide to fence the strip off, we would not object, but we are happy that the area is grazed after the silage/ hay is removed.

Benbecula has arable land on the Machairs, how do these Crofters meet their EFA commitments?

Answer: Local practices will be accepted on the fallow land on the Machair, our guidance confirms the eligibility and flexibility offered.

I already manage a large area under the AECS scheme for the benefit of biodiversity and nature, why am I not exempt from these requirements as I am already contributing?

Answer: Managing AECS options does not make you compliant with the Greening scheme requirements. AECS is a separately funded scheme, we do acknowledge the policy benefits you are delivering but to continue to receive your full Greening payment there must be actions associated with the scheme to add value linked to this funding allocation.

EFA Green cover now has much more flexibility- in the past we have used this behind a cereal or carrots / potatoes. From 2026 would it be possible to establish stubble turnips behind a crop of grass silage and count as EFA green cover. This practice is undertaken currently on a number of farms in the area although obviously not used for EFA?

Answer: EFA Green cover can be established behind TGRS years 1-5. The business must meet the option rules, including; establish a green cover consisting of two or more of the following crops as the predominant crops: alfalfa, barley, alsike clover, balansa clover, crimson clover, red clover, persian clover, white clover, buckwheat (can cause skin Photosensitisation), mustard, oats, phacelia, radish, rye, triticale, vetch, kale, forage rape, stubble turnip, winter beans

Under the new EFA Catch Crop rules Oilseed Rape has been added to the list and the guidance suggests it could be undersown with a mix such as berseem clover.

In practice what happens is Winter Oilseed Rape is sown along with berseem clover to act as an N fixing crop to give the WOSR early cover and fix some nitrogen. In the spring the canopy takes over and the berseem clover is shaded out. Then generally a winter crop would follow. Even in a spring crop the clover can be sown along with it but by harvest there is nothing left to retain until the 31 December.

Does the requirement to maintain the Catch Crop for berseem clover in WOSR stay until the 31 December?

Answer: The rule to retain the Catch crop up to the 31 December was purposely retained as it is important that the catch crop is for established longer than the cover crop and justify the weighting linked to policy outcome. Clover mixes can be used to ensure there is more chance of the catch crop being retained to the 31 of December.

But there is no concern about direct seeding a winter crop into the catch crop once the cover crop is harvested, this would not destroy the cover crop and ensure that it meets the scheme requirements which would not be the case for a tillage approach

EFA fallow for stubble that has been left over years, would this not be classed as TGRS and not eligible going forward?

Answer: Where it’s stubble that has been left over years, and it has naturally regenerated we would be content if we can identify at least three of the species we would be content this formed wildflower mix. This can still be claimed under the land use Fallow.

Where it is still stubble this would not be eligible.

For EFA Fallow seed mix can the soil conditioning crop contain other species within the mix other than the four crops discussed in the guidance?

Answer: Other mixes can be acceptable; it’s a non-exhaustive list. It can contain elements of the Wild flower mix as well.

If they have concerns, we would be happy to look at a mix they suggest, and confirm eligibility.

EFA fallow from 2026 onwards for EFA Fallow to be claimed as TGRS (temporary Grassland) would we be looking for a seed label etc to show the minimum three types of species?

Answer: EFA Fallow as temporary Grassland (TGRS), we would be looking for either inspectors to identify there was three different species or a seed label etc to show the minimum three types of species.

Can AECS Organic grassland on a farm be used for Low input grassland EFA? Would it be double funding?

Answer: While this moving EFA up the hill from the arable is not what the scheme is hoping to achieve as per the current compatibility Matrice For EFA and AECS Organic Conversion and Maintenance, the EFA could be carried out on organically managed land without a reduction in the AECS Organic management payment.

It would trigger a duplicate payment check on the SAF, please see the below confirmation of how it should be processed.

“Where the only AECS option which is claimed on the LPID is an organic conversion or maintenance option then there is no conflict, and the assessment should not be failed. If you are in any doubt contact the AECS Claims and Payments mailbox.”

The guidance states that we no longer require an EFA map?

Answer: You must still maintain a map that clearly defines the EFA managed area, this map does not require to be submitted with your SAF but if we require it to help with inspections or claim processing it must be supplied when requested or penalties will be applied.

Can I still use a paper map?

Answer: Yes, you must keep a map that fully defines where all your EFA options are and make it available on demand, this map can be paper or digital, it also could be combined with your WFP biodiversity audit.

What changes are planned 2027 onwards?

Answer: Full details of changes for 2027 onwards are still being reviewed but the intent is to increase the arable EFA requirement to 7% and review the option to introduce mandatory PGRS EFA requirement with associated EFA options.