Rural Payments and Services

To make sure your application is accepted, it’s important that it is completed properly, with all the information needed.

Before you start your submission, please take into account the following guidance on essential information to include and common errors.

Please also refer to "Checklist of Requirements" and "Further requirements for applicants" which expand on the information provided below.

• Familiarise yourself with individual option and capital item guidance and full scheme guidance. Check that you are using the latest version for the 2024 round.

• Designated sites - Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and European sites (SPA or SAC): If you are applying within a designated site, you are strongly recommended to make early contact with NatureScot, at least a month before the submission deadline to discuss your proposals. This will help ensure the management you are proposing is appropriate for the notified features of the site and that all issues are being addressed, and will reduce the risk of an application being rejected. If you do not allow enough time to discuss your proposals with NatureScot before submitting your application, you are at risk of having options/capital items removed from the application, which could jeopardise the whole application.

• Deer management: if you are considering applying for deer management, you must contact a NatureScot Wildlife Management Officer before applying. We advise you do this as soon as the application window opens. The deadline for NatureScot pre-application advice on deer is 30 April 2024. This will help ensure that deer proposals fit with the scheme requirements. Failure to consult with NatureScot risks having deer options/capital items removed which could jeopardise the whole application.

• Peatland management: if you are considering applying for peatland management, you are strongly advised to contact NatureScot at least a month before the submission deadline to discuss your proposals. This will help ensure that peatland proposals fit with the scheme requirements.

• Consult with relevant individuals/bodies to obtain any necessary documentation or approvals ahead of submitting your application. Check the further requirements page which has information on consents and licences.

• Complete all sections of the online application correctly. For example, if some of the area proposed for management is held under secure tenancy and the rest is owned, select both options

• Double check that all the required documents accompanying your application meet the specific standards referred to in the scheme guidance and have been uploaded or submitted before the application deadline. For documents where we provide a template, ensure that you use the latest version of the templates (see also the Checklist of Requirements)

• For all management options and capital items which require an individual Management Plan to support your application, (e.g. Grazing Plan, Scrub Control Plan) you must use the relevant plan template and provide all the information requested in the template. Failure to do so may result in the plan being deemed not fit for purpose and the option or item being removed from your application. In some cases, it may result in the whole application being rejected.

• Ensure maps are created and annotated in accordance with the Mapping guidance and Farm Environment Assessment (FEA) guidance (where applicable). You must also meet mapping requirements as set out for each individual management option and capital item.

• Contact your local RPID Area Office or NatureScot regional office as early as possible if you have a query about the scheme. RPID Area Offices can also help if you have any difficulties in uploading supporting documents for your application.

• Check the Schedule of Works before submitting your application, to make sure that it contains all the management options and capital items you wish to apply for, and that the proposed claim timings are correct. It is not possible to add options or capital items once the application has been submitted.

• It is essential that the application is prepared with the full involvement and understanding of the land manager responsible for delivering the work on the ground. The Case Officer’s site visit will include a discussion with this person and if they are unaware of what has been included in the application or cannot deliver some options/items the full application will be rejected.

• All capital items applied for have to be delivered and claimed for within the correct claim year, therefore, ensure that you only include items that you are able to deliver.

• If an application or its associated supporting documents contain multiple errors, or if it would require significant changes to make the proposals eligible for funding, it will be deemed not fit for purpose and will be rejected. Case officers are not able to make or allow significant changes within the rules of the scheme. This is especially important in relation to Moorland Management Plans, where you must ensure that the detail related to flock numbers in the plan aligns to the completed grazing tables and full flock records. Additionally, there must be adequate detail on current habitat condition and adequate explanation of how the proposed future management is reflecting what the habitat needs and takes account of previous management.

• Don’t wait until the last few days of the application round to upload your supporting documents and finalise your application, instead upload as you finalise your documents to avoid issues with RP&S which may occur when usage is very high.

Below are some of the most common errors made when submitting an AECS application. These can result in your application being rejected, so it’s worth taking the time to get it right.

A common issue with applications is a failure to submit documents related to the ownership/tenancy of the land. Below are some examples:

• a completed landlord declaration form or copy of lease
• crofting shareholders support/evidence
• a fully completed shared boundary agreement for march fencing.

Please check the guidance for Occupancy of land for more information.

If a lease document has been obtained for another purpose and it is then used in support of an AECS application the applicant must ensure that the lease submitted already meets the AECS requirements.

The applicant must also enter sufficient details in the Proof of Secure Tenancy section of the online AECS application to alert the case officer of this request. Information about the lease’s earlier submission to RPID and that the lease is also to be used for the AECS application should be provided.

A common issue which can result in the failure to score points under the relevant Scoring Criteria categories is the absence of the relevant documentation. Examples of this are included below:

National priorities - Biodiversity: enhancing biodiversity in the wider countryside by conserving vulnerable priority species (VPS). In order to secure the points for enhancing biodiversity you must make sure that:

• the Vulnerable Priority Species form is submitted (this can be completed by the applicant/agent).
• your application includes the required management options or capital items for the species you have provided supporting information for

Please check the guidance for vulnerable priority species for more information.

Wader Survey - For applications benefitting VPS waders, additional points can be awarded if recent bird survey data (within last five years) is provided and provides evidence of VPS waders.

The survey for VPS waders must be carried out by one of the following:

• Non-Government Organisation (NGO) - The survey should be conducted by an environmental NGO where the person doing the survey is experienced in undertaking wader surveys.
• Project Officer - Specialist individuals involved in wader projects. These could include RSPB, Working for Waders, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) etc. The individual must be experienced in conducting wader surveys.
• Ecologist - A member of a recognised body such as The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)

To be awarded points for collaboration, the person leading on the collaborative project must correctly complete a Collaborative Management Plan (using the template in the Scoring Criteria webpage) along with a map or maps clearly showing the extent of the collaborative work proposed. The Plan must be agreed with all parties involved and must clearly demonstrate the contribution each participant applying to (or currently in) AECS will make. A copy of the completed Plan and map(s) must be submitted by each applicant involved in the collaborative project, along with their AECS application.

Every option or item has guidance stating when it is eligible. Always check the latest AECS guidance and do not assume it is unchanged since the last round. This is especially important if you are a returning applicant, as changes have been made to options since AECS launched.

It is also essential to read the supporting guidance for options and capital items, as this will help ensure that you meet the scheme requirements.

The table below shows common / potential causes of errors relating to options and capital items. If you are unsure, request advice from RPID or NatureScot.

Subject		Comments
Management options general		Ensure the specified supporting maps and tables are submitted (as explained on the Farm Environment Assessment webpage), where applicable
Management options general		Your management map(s) must very clearly show which options are being applied for and where. For rotational options, a separate map is useful, to show the location for each year
Targeted options		If an option is not on the list for your holding, you cannot apply for it unless you obtain an endorsement from NatureScot before you apply and then submit this with your application. Allow plenty of time to request the endorsement from NatureScot. We strongly advise you to contact NatureScot at least a month before the application submission deadline. Otherwise, there is a risk that you will not receive the endorsement before the deadline and the option may have to be rejected. Please refer to the ‘Endorsement’ section of the AECS guidance to check when an ‘Endorsement’ is available. Endorsements are potentially available for any options that would benefit designated sites, but otherwise they are only available for a limited range of options. If you have an endorsement granted for a previous AECS contract and the option and location remains exactly the same, you can upload the previous endorsement to support the new application.
Targeting tool		If you are applying for several holdings, remember that an option may be eligible on the Main Location Code but not on the other Location Codes. Equally, an option could be available on a holding with a sub location code but not on the holding with the main location code
Management Options	Management options that require capital items	Ensure that you include any capital items which are essential to support a particular management option. For example, the Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds option requires the Creation of Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds capital item.
	Water margins options	The summary tables must be fully completed, making it clear where the margins are of varying widths, and excluding the margin width required under GAEC.
	Wader grazed grassland, Wader and Wildlife mown grassland	Complete the Wader Management Plan to define the grazing regimes in the wader option fields and include photographs of these fields. A link to the plan template is included on the option pages.
	Wader grazed grassland, Wader and Wildlife mown grassland	Do not plant hedges around fields entered into these management options. To be awarded National priority VPS scoring points, you must exclude a 30m margin adjacent to trees, scrub, hedges or woodland in the claim area. This buffer must be clearly marked and labelled on your management map. For further information, please refer to the guidance pages for the individual options. In addition, for Wader Grazed Grassland you MUST complete the grazing calendar in the online application. Take note of restrictions to permitted fencing costs for these options below.
	Habitat Mosaic Management and Species-Rich Grassland Management	If you are applying for these options on hill and upland rough grazing land, you must seek an endorsement from NatureScot prior to applying, using the endorsement request form, supported by survey data proving that the site has the target habitats. If the endorsement is awarded, you must submit this alongside your application. To ensure you receive the endorsement in time, you are strongly advised to contact NatureScot at least a month before the application submission deadline. If you have an endorsement granted for a previous AECS contract and the management area remains exactly the same, you can upload the previous endorsement to support the new application. For habitat mosaics, ensure there is a true mosaic and that the site meets the habitat eligibility, clearly set out in the supporting guidance. Sites with more than c25% of heath/bog habitat are not eligible. If the site has a lot of heath/bog, and the aim is to manage for waders, consider the heath management for waders option instead .Where there is a lot of grassland, there must be species rich grassland (not just improved grassland) within the mosaic.
	Wader management on heath mosaics (within the Heath management option)	To apply for this option, fields must fall within the target area for the wader grazed grassland option and you must stipulate in your application which waders your plan will benefit. You must follow the grazing regime stated in the option. You cannot apply for this option on land previously managed under the Moorland Management option. Also, if the land has not been entered into the agri-environment scheme before, but is a large, heath/mire dominated area, then it should be entered under the Moorland management option. Failure to do so will result in the option being removed from the plan, which could jeopardise the whole application. If you are unsure of habitat eligibility, speak to NatureScot or RPID before applying.
	Moorland Management and associated options	Due to the number of poor quality applications we have received, a revised Moorland Management Plan templatehas been developed for 2024 which must be used for applications. Ensure that the plan is clear about the grazing across the moorland and that the flock details are the same in the text text and grazing tables and backed up by providing all flock movement records which must be submitted at the time of application. A new habitat condition assessment must be undertaken for all land to be entered into moorland management. Proposed management should address any issues found, so a change in management will be required if areas are found to be overgrazed or undergrazed. Submit all flock movement records within the holding register at the time of application. Please note the revised date to be used for flock records if the application includes Away wintering or Stock Disposal. Returning applicants must supply their last year's Management Diary pages for all LPIDs that were funded for Moorland management showing the full year's grazing. Ensure any other relevant supporting documentation is submitted alongside your application.
	Predator Control	If you had crow control only in a previous contract, you cannot continue to claim this, as the traps will last more than 5 years. If applying for the hectarage based payment for crow and mammal control you must consult NatureScot to agree the eligible hectarage that can be claimed which will be assessed on a case by case basis. Contact NatureScot early in the application window. We are unable to consider any requests within a month of the application deadline. Predator control should only be applied for where the notified bird features are being impacted by predation and where an appropriate level of effort within the bird nesting season is proposed. For returning applicants, you must submit the last 2 years predator control reports from your expiring contract.
	Management of Buffers areas for Fens and Lowland Bogs	This should be a strip of land and whole fields cannot be claimed. An effective buffer between the fen or lowland bog and the productive land must be created by allowing vegetation to grow and then managing effectively by grazing.
	Restoration of Species Rich Grassland	This option is limited in terms of land eligibility to only permanent grassland that meets the description in the supporting guidance. Please check this carefully. Ensure an appropriate grazing regime is proposed, in order to allow the plants to establish.
Capital Items	All capital items	For all applications, only essential capital items will be accepted. For agri-environment type applications this would include: - Capital items that are directly required to deliver the management option, such as the capital item Creation of Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds which is essential for the Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds option - Essential complimentary capital items, such as Creation of Wader Scrapes or Cutting of Rush Pasture - Other capital items that are essential to deliver the outcome of your application Capital items are not eligible when selecting the Organic Maintenance option as this option supports the cost of maintaining an organic management system. The Organic Conversion option is to help farmers with the cost of converting their land to organic systems, capital items such as stock fences are not eligible. An exception may be made where the land was previously under a continually cropped arable system which is being converted to an organic system where grass and grazing are being re-introduced. Consequently you must supply a justification for any capital items applied under Organic Conversion, detailing why these should be considered as exceptional by the case officer. Some capital items are available throughout the country. However, some are targeted to particular locations. You can only apply for the targeted capital items if they are listed under your MLC in the Targetting tool webpage. (The capital items webpage shows which items are targeted.) Note that non-targeted capital items are not listed in the Targeting tool webpage. Capital work should all be delivered in year 1 of the contract, unless the webpage for a specific capital items says otherwise. For example, for peatland restoration (ditch blocking) if there is significant work, this can be spread over years 1 and 2, but not beyond. The following capital items are suspended for the 2024 round: Creation of Species-rich grassland Heather Restoration and associated Follow up Molinia Control Muirburn (but Heather Cutting is available) The following items are restricted: Hedge Creation is limited to 1000m per application Pond Creation and Restoration is limited to 2000m2 per application and 600m2 per individual pond.
	Actual capital costs	Where there is an actual cost capital item, you must provide a robust justification of why standard costs cannot be used and provide the quotes and complete the quotations table in line with the scheme guidance. Items with missing or inadequate quotes for actual capital costs will not progress past the assessment stage and, in exceptional circumstances, may risk rejection of the whole application.
	Fencing	If you have already received funding for fencing in your previous AECS contract, or there is a current stock fence in place and it is not derelict and would last the five years of an AECS agreement, then funding for a new stock fence will not be available. For fences funded in the early rounds of the Rural Priorities Scheme (or comparable previous schemes up to 2014) that are not expected to last another five years, applications can be considered for fencing costs on stretches of fence needing replaced, subject to a site visit by the case officer to confirm the costs are justifiable. We recommend you seek advice before submitting your application. In certain circumstances, we may allow funding of a new fence to create a wider water margin where the existing fenced margin is too narrow. This does not apply if the margin was created with Rural Priorities funding and is being increased in width to meet GAEC 1 requirements. Where a new fence is permitted, you must remove and dispose of the existing fence appropriately - at your own cost. You must not apply for fencing costs to facilitate rotational grazing. Stock Fencing costs are not permitted for any wader, corncrake or corn bunting options. However, temporary electric fencing can be applied for under these options where it is justified to deliver management. Temporary electric fencing comes under the Scare and Temporary Electric fencing capital item. For Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds and Forage Brassica Crops for Farmland Bird only Temporary electric fencing can be used to enable management where that management is rotated around the farm over the contract period. The temporary electric fencing can be claimed once, but must then be re-used to enable management on subsequent plots. Fencing for forage brassica crops is only available where the site will be grazed by livestock Stock fencing with these options will only be considered where a robust justification can be demonstrated by the applicant business
	Fence removal	This is only eligible if it is required to deliver benefit to a habitat or is in black grouse or capercaillie core areas. It cannot be used to fund removal of existing fencing so that new fencing can be erected.
	Control of Scrub or Woody Vegetation	Plan to undertake all scrub control on a site within the first two years of your contract, to prevent continuous seeding of shrub species.
	Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems Hard Standings Livestock Crossing Livestock Tracks Managing Steading Drainage and Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems Pesticide Handling Facilities Water-use Efficiency Irrigation Lagoon	If applying for any of these options, you must submit a Diffuse Pollution Steading Assessment. For Water - see Efficiency Irrigation Lagoon - the Diffuse Pollution Steading Assessment is only required where the lagoon will be filled with any water that was collected at a steading
	Sediment Ponds	Where sediment ponds have an integrated sediment trap, they need to be claimed separately as each has a different cost.
Bracken Control		The manual treatment capital item must be undertaken annually and include multiple cuts each season. Only mechanised or manual treatment of bracken can be funded where appropriate.
Muirburn and Heather Cutting		The Muirburn element of the Muirburn and Heather Cutting capital item is suspended for the 2024 round. If you plan to undertake muirburn at your own expense on a designated site within your AECS application area and during the lifetime of the AECS contract, you MUST submit a Muirburn Plan, so that there is a record of where and when work will take place, to allow the case officer to assess whether work is appropriate to the site. For non-designated sites, you must provide detail within the Moorland management plan of any muirburn you intend to undertake. Heather cutting is not suspended.
Ditch blocking		If you apply for Ditch Blocking for peatland restoration, you will need approval from your planning authority, under the Prior Notification and Prior Approval process. You are also strongly advised to contact NatureScot as least a month before the submission deadline to discuss your peatland proposals. This will help ensure they fit with the scheme requirements.

Section	Change
Whole page	Updated details for 2024 round

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