Scottish farmers are facing a raft of changes to the support payment system in 2025. In an announcement by the Scottish Government plus a letter to all support claimants which sets out areas which are being changes. However overall the government stresses the different schemes are largely remaining the same.

One of the main updates is to support farmers towards the future requirement for a Whole Farm Plan.

In 2025, as a condition for basic payments, farmers and crofters will be expected to have started carrying out at least two from five potential options. Claimants will need to confirm which option have been completed on their SAF next year.

The five options available ar:

• Carbon audit (conducted within the five year period before May 2025

• Biodiversity audit

• Soil analysis

• Annual animal health and welfare plan

• Annual Integrated pest management plan

Many of these options are already under taken by farm businesses through quality assurance or supply chain contracts. If so, and these meet the minimum standards, you can simply confirm this activity on next year’s SAF.

There are also new conditions in cross compliance with a new peatland and wetland standards added to GAEC 6 - Maintenance of soil organic matter. These standards will prohibit a range of activities from being carried out on peatland and wetland areas and include:

• Ploughing and cultivations and reseeding

• New drainage and maintenance of existing drainage systems that causes further drying out of the peatland

• Application of pesticides, fertilisers including manure, lime and soil conditioners

• Creation of new roads and tracks including vehicle rutting exposing the soil

• Activities that cause damage to the vegetation cover exposing the soil

• Additionally for wetlands – disruption of connections between rivers/water courses and wetlands (that will lead to the drying of the wetland)

This will apply to land with peat soils more than 50 cm in depth with a near natural vegetative cover and also to wetland habitats.

As previously announced from 2025 onwards, calves will only be eligible for a Scottish Beef Support scheme if their dam has a calving interval threshold of 410 days or less. The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis not on herd averages.

The announcement has been met with concern from the industry that the audits and plans will require additional support from land agents and SAC consulting. However, others have pointed out that much of the industry is already completing at least two of the options, so the change is less onerous. Small producers and crofters look to be one of the most affected groups as the cost of undertaking these measures is disproportionally large for those operating on a smaller scale.

Commenting on the announcement Land agent Gordon McConnichie said: “I am concerned about the carbon audits as they still seem very one sided. They are yet to fully recognise the sequestration which is happening on farms through grassland, hedges and trees.

“On my farm I have 250acres of open woodland, 13,000m of hedging and 1500 hectares of peat bogs and moorland, which does not get full recognised in the equations.

“The carbon audits will likely cost farmers more money to conduct, in my view they should be completed by the department with information provided by the farmer or crofter through the SFP or the June census return.”