Climate Change Plan: monitoring report 2025

The fifth annual monitoring progress report on the Climate Change Plan update (CCPu) which updated the 2018 Climate Change Plan (CCP) and was finalised in March 2021. The report is a statutory requirement set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.


8. Chapter 7: Agriculture

8.1 Part A – Overview of sector

The outturn emission statistics for 2022 (published in 2024) show a position of 7.7 MtCO2e.

The CCPu sets out the following six policy outcomes for the sector, the indicators for which are summarised below:

A more productive, sustainable agriculture sector that significantly contributes toward delivering Scotland’s climate change, and wider environmental, outcomes through an increased uptake of climate mitigation measures by farmers, crofters, land managers and other primary food producers.

There are no indicators for this policy outcome. More information is provided in the body of this report.

More farmers, crofters, land managers and other primary food producers are aware of the benefits and practicalities of cost effective climate mitigation measures On Track Off Track Too Early to Say
Increased engagement with Farm Advisory Services on environmental issues and climate change X - -
Nitrogen emissions, including from nitrogen fertiliser, will have fallen through a combination of improved understanding efficiencies and improved soil condition On Track Off Track Too Early to Say
Use of Nitrogen fertilisers X - -
Spreading precision of Nitrogen fertilisers X - -
Nitrogen use efficiency for crop production - - X
Reduced emissions from red meat and dairy through improved emissions intensity On Track Off Track Too Early to Say
Time taken from birth to slaughter and increased efficiency through improved health and reduced losses - X -
Reduced emissions from the use and storage of manure and slurry. On Track Off Track Too Early to Say
Improvement in covered slurry storage - - X
Precision application of manure and slurry - - X
Carbon sequestration and existing carbon stores on agricultural land have helped to increase and maintain our carbon sink. On Track Off Track Too Early to Say
Area of woodland on agricultural land X - -

Just Transition and Cross Economy Impacts:

We wish to understand and report on the broader just transition and cross-economy impacts of our emissions reduction activities in addition to these sector specific policy outcomes and indicators. To do this, in this report we use data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS): Low Carbon Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE) publication. The LCREE data presented in this report is based on survey data of businesses which perform economic activities that deliver goods and services that are likely to help generate lower emissions of greenhouse gases, for example low carbon electricity, low emission vehicles and low carbon services. The LCREE indicator is narrowly defined and, while useful within its limited scope, does not give us the full picture of the impacts on workforce, employers and communities and progress towards a just transition. Over the next year, we will work to develop a more meaningful set of success outcomes and indicators aimed at tracking the impacts of our policies on a just transition to net zero, which will inform our next CCP.

Sector commentary on progress

The Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture outlines our aim to transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. To deliver the ambition set out in the Vision:

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 (the Act) will provide the powers required to deliver the Agricultural Reform Programme. The Act sets the overarching objectives of Scottish agricultural policy as:

  • the adoption and use of sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices,
  • the production of high-quality food,
  • the promotion and support of agricultural practices that protect and improve animal health and welfare, and
  • the facilitation of on-farm nature restoration, climate mitigation and adaptation.

It also introduced new requirements, including the publication of a “Rural Support Plan” and a “Code of Practice for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture.”

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill includes several measures to radically reform tenant farming legislation to make it fit for the future. It will provide more opportunities for tenant farmers to deliver improvements to the land they work on to become more sustainable and productive and play their part in supporting biodiversity and climate change.

The Agricultural Reform Route Map was updated in summer 2024, when requirements for 2025 were published. The route map still makes clear the existing framework of support will continue, sets out what changes recipients of current farm payments will be expected to make from 2025 and beyond, and sets out the process for changing to a new agricultural future support framework from 2026. It still includes information on important dates, the measures being considered, when current schemes will transition or end, the support available, and how to prepare for these first changes from 2025.

Two pieces of regulations have been bought into force:

Preparing for Sustainable Farming continues to deliver transitional support for businesses to prepare for the future with three options that Scottish farmers, crofters, and agricultural contractors can claim funding for: carbon audits, soil sampling and analysis, and animal health and welfare interventions.

The Basic Payment Scheme (Tier 1), provides an element of financial certainty for farmers and crofters engaged in food production and actively managing the land. From 2026, we will launch the new Enhanced Payment (Tier 2), which will focus on measures that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore and improve nature. From 2027 we will deliver further elements of the Future Support Framework, such as Elective (Tier 3), which will focus on funding targeted actions for climate change or nature restoration and Complementary support payments (Tier 4), which will focus on providing applicants with the skills and advice required.

It was confirmed it remains the case that 70% of funding would be allocated to Tier 1 (Base) and Tier 2 (Enhanced) and the Scottish Government intends to apply a funding split of 70/30 between Tiers 1 and 2. This ensures the majority of funding will remain open to the majority of farmers and crofters and delivers on our promise to a just transition and to support farmers and crofters as they transition to the new support framework. Farmers and crofters will be expected to do more for the climate and farm more sustainably to continue to receive this funding.

In return for Basic Payment Scheme support in 2025, under the Whole Farm Plan, claimants will be expected to have started carrying out two out of five plans and audits that are relevant to their business. The plans are 1) Animal Health and Welfare Plan, 2) Biodiversity Audit, 3) Carbon Audit, 4) Integrated Pest Management Plan, or 5) Soil Analysis. All businesses will then be expected to have all of the plans and audits in place by 2028, with Nutrient Management Plans being added by 2028.

The Agricultural Transformation (Programme) Fund underpins support for the agricultural sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve efficiency, and enhance Scotland’s natural environment through the period of transition. The 2024 round was allocated to provide an extension of support for slurry storage across Scotland (except in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) and to increase the provision of irrigation lagoons. The Scottish Government also continues to support land managers to undertake actions that help to mitigate and adapt to climate change and restore nature through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme.

A further £14 million will also be allocated to delivering the Future Farming Investment Scheme. The Future Farming Investment Scheme will offer flexible support for capital items that can be used to improve efficiency or support nature and climate-friendly farming. Details of this will operate are still be developed and a further announcement will be made during 2025.

The Scottish Government also continues to work with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society as the delivery partner for the MyHerdStats dashboard. Engagement is high, with around 30% of Scottish cattle keepers accessing the service.

The farmer led Integrating Tree Network, continues to share their knowledge and expertise with other farmers and crofters who have shown an interest in planting trees on their land. The Scottish Government also continues to support, communicate, educate, and demonstrate the benefits of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures through initiatives like the Farming and Water Scotland and the Scottish Farm Advisory Service.

Developments in Monitoring Arrangements Since Last Report

N/A

8.2 Part B - Progress to Policy Outcome Indicators

Policy Outcome: Cross-sectoral social and economic

Indicator: FTE employment in Low Carbon Renewable Energy Economy Indicator

On-Track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Year-to-year change

Most Recent Data: 2022

Data Source(s): Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Estimates, Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Assessment: Too early to say

Commentary: Data for the year 2023 is due to be published later this year, following the release of this report.

In 2022, the Scottish low carbon renewable energy economy (LCREE) sectors were estimated to provide 25,700 FTE jobs. Estimates of LCREE are based on a relatively small sample of businesses and hence are subject to a wide confidence interval.

Scottish LCREE employment in 2022 is lower than in 2021 but the difference is not statistically significant, and caution should be exercised when interpreting year on year changes due to a high degree of uncertainty in estimates.

Employment in Low Carbon Renewable Energy Economy, FTE
The trend shows an decrease in employment in low carbon renewable energy sectors in 2022 in comparison to 2021 with an estimate of 25,700 FTE jobs.

Source: Office of National Statistics (ONS) Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy Estimates

Policy Outcome: 2

Indicator: Increased engagement with Farm Advisory Services on environmental issues and climate change.

On-track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Based on trend.

Most Recent Data: Farm Advisory Service reporting

Data Source(s): Farm Advisory Service annual and lifetime reports

Assessment: On track

Commentary: Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) maintains consistently high engagement and uptake on a range of advice the service offers. The service continues to support farmers and crofters through a period of significant uncertainty and change whilst innovating and continuing to evolve the service to address future challenges, in particular relating to the Scottish Government’s target for net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045.

This includes advice to improve biodiversity, increase awareness of carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits of woodland planting, promote climate change adaptation and mitigation opportunities, improve business management and efficiency, encourage inclusivity by supporting new entrants and women in agriculture, and helping to support the industry and Scottish Government to evolve to meet future challenges.

Uptake of FAS One-to-One support between 2022-23 to 2024-25

Activity 22/23 23/24 24/25 Overall Total Since 2016
Integrated Land Management Plan 54 58 42 553
Specialist Advice 200 273 346 1,447
Carbon Audits 446 122 366 2,712
Mentoring 22 30 30 172
General Enquires 1,185* 1,868* 1,287 12257*

*Numbers represent when service was delivered by FAS One-to-Many. This service moved to FAS One-to-One in July 2024.

FAS One to Many delivery between 2022-23 to 2024-25

Activity 22/23 (1) 23/24 (2) 24/25 (3) Overall Total since 2016
FAS Connect Group Events 80 123 133 425
FAS Live Events & Webinars 138 137 167 1,677
Roadshow Events 16 14 16 30
Publications 208 199 191 1,941
Videos 126 126 110 938
Podcasts & Audio 71 94 82 501
Tools 5 2 2 53
Event Participants 3,910 6,640 6,715 45,482
Video Views 308,988 241,759 209,621 1,811,886
Podcast Listens 24,128 32,839 34,795 160,683
Publication Downloads 254,028 22,1091 89,498 1,131,961
Website Views 1,357,413 1,211,094 620,156 7,008,294

1) We would conservatively estimate that more than 50% of this FAS activity in 22/23 included elements of climate change adaptation and mitigation support.

2) We would conservatively estimate that more than 70% of this FAS activity in 23/24 included elements of climate change adaptation and mitigation support.

3) We would conservatively estimate that more than 70% of FAS activity in 24/25 included elements of climate change adaptation and mitigation support

Additional 2024/25 information

  • Newsletter: By the end of 2024, the number of subscribers was 7067. The newsletter had an average open rate of 53%.
  • Podcasts: 82 podcasts were produced in 24/25 (15 around climate change) with a total of 34,795 listens.
  • Videos: There were 110 new videos published in 24/25 (18 around climate change) with 209,621 views.
  • Articles: There were 191 publications in 24/25 (39 around climate change), downloaded 89,498 times in total.
  • Social media: X, formerly known as Twitter, followers increased by 1.4% during the 24/25 to a total of 2,947 followers. While Facebook followers increased to 10,000, during 24/25, an annual increase of 18.5%.

Several specialist advice outputs have been undertaken under this FAS programme including:

  • 34% Biodiversity, habitat, and landscape management
  • 15% soil and nutrient management
  • 14% improved farm efficiency
  • 6% succession planning
  • 6% resilience planning

Over 80% of service users stated they will implement all the actions recommended in their bespoke one-to-one consultancy advice supported by FAS One-to-One.

Additionally, 98% would rate the quality of the report as excellent or good. As of February 2025, there were 408 specialist advice plans focusing on biodiversity, and habitat landscape management for 2024-25, which is a 185% increase on the 143 such plans in 2023-24.

FAS event attendees consistently provide feedback that they had an improved understanding of soil/nutrient management and climate change.

Policy Outcome: 3

Indicator: Use of Nitrogen fertilisers

On-track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Based on trend.

Most Recent Data: 2023 (provisional)

Data Source(s): Dataset for the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice 2023, Table AA1.7

Assessment: On track

Commentary: This data shows that from 2000, the use of nitrogen fertilisers in Scotland has decreased overall, with some fluctuation.

Nitrogen use decreased between 2002 and 2007, then remained largely stable until 2012 when it began to increase. Since 2017, there has been a downward trend from 157 kt total nitrogen use in 2017 to an estimated 114 kt total nitrogen use in 2023 (provisional data).

Quantities of nitrogen used (kt N), Scotland 2000 to 2023

Crop year Nitrogen used (kt N)
2000 150
2001 180
2002 187
2003 170
2004 150
2005 150
2006 153
2007 126
2008 127
2009 124
2010 127
2011 124
2012 125
2013 139
2014 151
2015 155
2016 155
2017 157
2018 147
2019 150
2020 131
2021 135
2022 118
2023 114
Nitrogen (kt N)
Dark blue line shows Quantities of nitrogen used falling from 150kt N in 2000 to 114kt N in 2023.

Note: Years are crop rather than calendar years (e.g. 2023 refers to the 2022-23 crop years, fertiliser consumption period July to June). Data for 2023[p] are provisional.

Policy Outcome: 3

Indicator: Spreading precision of Nitrogen fertilisers.

On-track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Based on trend.

Most Recent Data: 2023

Data Source(s): Dataset for The British Survey of Fertiliser Practice 2023, Table AA1.1

Assessment: On track

Commentary: This data shows that from 2000, the overall application rates of nitrogen fertilisers have decreased, with some fluctuation.

The trend shows that the overall nitrogen application rates decreased from 118 kg/ha in 2000 to 65 kg/ha in 2023.

Total overall nitrogen application rates (kg/ha), Scotland 2000 to 2023

Year Total overall nitrogen application rates (kg/ha), crops and grass
2000 118
2001 127
2002 119
2003 114
2004 107
2005 102
2006 98
2007 89
2008 81
2009 84
2010 80
2011 79
2012 79
2013 87
2014 87
2015 89
2016 86
2017 86
2018 85
2019 82
2020 73
2021 77
2022 63
2023 65
Total overall nitrogen application rates (kg/ha)
Dark blue line shows total nitrogen application rates falling from 118kg/ha in 2000 to 65kg/ha to 2023.

Policy Outcome: 3

Indicator: Nitrogen use efficiency for crop production.

On-track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Based on trend.

Most Recent Data:

Data Source(s): Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet 2021, Table 1

Assessment: Too early

Commentary: Through The Climate Change (Nitrogen Balance Sheet) (Scotland) Regulations 2022, Scotland has committed to establishing a statutory whole-economy Nitrogen Balance Sheet, with regular formal review.

Crop production underpins much of wider food production, which in turn is the main engine of overall national nitrogen use in Scotland. Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is an important summary indicator metric that can be calculated from the comprehensive dataset on nitrogen flows assembled in the Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet.

It is important to note that NUE in arable production inherently varies depending on farm type/systems, management, environmental conditions (soils, climate) etc. While good management can reduce losses, in practice some losses are inevitable due to continuous nitrogen transformation processes in soils and leaching. As such, crop production NUE values between 50-90% can generally be considered desirable, but there is no simple one size fits all “good value.The 65% figure compares well with international data published for 124 countries (up to 2009), where crop production NUE ranged from 40 to 77% for EU countries.

Contributors to NUE in crop production

Inputs to arable land (excludes recycling terms) Size of Input Flow (kt N per year)
2019, except for N deposition which is 2018 2020, except for N deposition which is 2019 2021, except for N deposition which is 2020
Mineral fertiliser (to arable/crops) 62.1 63.5 58.6
Slurry/manure (to arable/crops) 17.8 17.9 16.2
Atmospheric N deposition (to arable) 4 4.0 4
Digestate (non-crop/crop waste feedstocks only) (data not available as split between arable/grass - using 50%) 1.7 2.0 2.1
Seeds (sowing/planting) 1.7 1.7 1.7
Biological N fixation (BNF) by arable crops 1.6 1.8 2
Sewage sludge (data not split into arable/grass - using 50%) 1.2 1.2 1.2
Compost (assumed to go to arable/horticulture) 0.9 0.9 0.89
Total N inputs 90.2 93.1 86.7
Useful outputs Size of Output Flow (kt N per year)
2019, except for N deposition which is 2018 2020, except for N deposition which is 2019 2021, except for N deposition which is 2020
Harvest (as food, includes human-edible crops that end up as livestock feed, seed materials or biomass) 56.3 56.7 54.6
Harvest (planted as fodder crops) 1.9 1.6 1.6
Total N outputs 58.2 58.2 56.1

Year

  • 2019
    • NUE: 63%
  • 2020
    • NUE: 65%
  • 2021
    • NUE: 65%

Note: Recycling terms are not included in either inputs or outputs for the purpose of this NUE calculation: digestate from crops, crop residues.

Policy Outcome: 4

Indicator: Time taken from birth to slaughter and increased efficiency through improved health and reduced losses.

On-track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Based on Trend

Most Recent Data: 2024

Data Source(s): Cattle Tracing Scheme, analysis by SRUC

Assessment: Off Track

Average age of prime animal slaughter by farm type, Scotland 2015 to 2024

Farm type Slaughter year Mean age (months) Number of animals
All farm types 2015 22.82 359,170
2016 22.47 367,887
2017 22.36 358,173
2018 22.33 352,806
2019 22.36 356,945
2020 22.17 353,853
2021 21.88 347,415
2022 21.95 347,031
2023 22.03 332,146
2024 22.31 336,674
Beef 2015 21.82 150,240
2016 21.55 156,219
2017 21.39 147,616
2018 21.33 139,058
2019 21.44 146,732
2020 21.35 145,846
2021 21.08 146,073
2022 21.12 143,609
2023 21.17 123,167
2024 21.43 122,808
Dairy 2015 22.32 17,303
2016 22.13 17,280
2017 22.09 14,210
2018 22.37 12,073
2019 21.95 12,299
2020 22.03 10,493
2021 21.96 8,658
2022 22.29 9,055
2023 23.50 8,421
2024 23.69 11,144
Finisher 2015 23.61 171,298
2016 23.24 178,557
2017 23.08 179,135
2018 23.09 183,740
2019 23.10 180,458
2020 22.79 182,186
2021 22.47 180,580
2022 22.51 178,634
2023 22.48 181,404
2024 22.71 188,154
Trader 2015 23.80 16,910
2016 22.80 12,288
2017 23.24 12,721
2018 22.12 13,777
2019 22.45 13,366
2020 22.52 12,144
2021 22.38 9,674
2022 22.61 11,922
2023 22.44 16,396
2024 23.11 10,278
Grower 2015 24.52 3,419
2016 24.78 3,543
2017 23.57 4,491
2018 23.19 4,158
2019 23.91 4,090
2020 23.95 3,184
2021 23.94 2,430
2022 23.64 3,811
2023 24.07 2,758
2024 24.47 4,290

Note: the animals need not have been slaughtered in Scotland. Figures include indirect routes to slaughter, which includes animals that have gone through markets and not immediately to a slaughterhouse.

Commentary: The average age of prime animal slaughter showed a downward trend between 2015 and 2021, before flattening and showing an increase in the most recent year. While the mean age of slaughter in 2024 (22.31 months) is lower than in 2015 (22.82 months), recent increases mean that the overall trend no longer appears to be downwards. The reason animals may be being slaughtered later in 2024 is complex and partially market-driven.

Policy Outcome: 5

Indicator: Improvement in covered slurry storage

On-track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Based on trend.

Most Recent Data: 2023

Data Source(s): Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: Module June 2023 Table 14

Assessment: Too early to say

Manure and slurry storage system (in the past 12 months), Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2023

Storage system Average percentage storage system used (%) Holdings (Number)
Manure solid storage in heaps 58 4,134
Manure stored in compost piles 11 854
Manure stored in pits below animal confinement 8 801
Manure stored in deep litter systems 3 353
Liquid manure/slurry storage without cover 10 847
Liquid manure/slurry storage with permeable cover 2 154
Liquid manure/slurry storage with impermeable cover 2 212
Manure stored in other facilities (not elsewhere classified) 2 177
Daily spread 1 133
Other 3 218
All techniques 100 5,547

Note: Data is based on the number of respondents to this question in the Agricultural and Horticultural Census Module of June 2023 only. Average percentage relates to the manure/slurry that is stored using this this technique. Note holding number any holding recorded as using this technique.

Commentary: Data from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2023 - Agricultural production methods and nutrient application module show that on average farmers used a covered system for at least 14% of their manure and slurry storage. Covered storage includes manure in pits below animal confinement (8%), liquid manure/slurry with permeable or impermeable cover (4%) or manure in deep litter systems’ (3%). On average farmers had the majority (79%) of their manure and slurry storage systems not covered – manure stored in heaps (58%) or compost piles (11%), or liquid manure/slurry storage without cover (10%) – and 1% spread daily.

It is not possible to tell if the remaining 6% of farmers’ manure and slurry storage systems were covered.

Data is based on the number of respondents to this question in the Agricultural and Horticultural Census Module of June 2023 only.

These figures on manure and slurry storage systems are based on new questions asked for the first time in the June 2023 Scottish Agricultural Census. The 2023 figures are not comparable with previously reported data for this indicator. Earlier data on covered slurry stores were collected in the Scottish Survey of Farm Structure and Methods 2013 and 2016 and showed a small overall increase in the percentage of holdings with covered slurry stores between those years, from 85.8% to 86.6%.

Support for slurry stores is available through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme and the Sustainable Agricultural Capital Grants Scheme (SACGS) 2022 focused on providing support for low-emission slurry spreading equipment and slurry store covers that are proven to reduce harmful ammonia emissions and reduce adverse impacts on water quality resulting from the storage and spreading of livestock slurry and digestate.

Policy Outcome: 5

Indicator: Precision application of manure and slurry

On-track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Based on trend.

Most Recent Data: 2023

Data Source(s): Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: Module June 2023 Table 13

Assessment: Too early to say

Manure/slurry spreading techniques (in the past 12 months)

Manure / slurry spreading technique Average percentage spreading technique used (%) Holdings (Number)
Broadcast spreader with manure ploughed in within 4 hours of spreading 4.9 506
Broadcast spreader with manure ploughed in 4 or more hours after spreading 29.7 2,310
Broadcast spreader with manure not ploughed in 43.0 2,966
Band spreader with a trailing hose 8.9 657
Band spreading with a trailing shoe 3.6 274
Open-slot shallow injection spreader 1.3 95
Closed-slot deep injection spreader 0.2 20
Other 8.5 557
All techniques 100 5,490

Note: Data is based on the number of respondents to this question in the Agricultural and Horticultural Census Module of June 2023 only. Recorded as percentage - respondents were asked to supply a percentage for each type, equalling 100%, the answers have been averaged from this.

Commentary: Data from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2023 - Agricultural production methods and nutrient application module show that 14% of manure/slurry spreading techniques were ‘low-ammonia emission spreading’ (9% ‘band with a trailing hose’, 4% ‘band with a trailing shoe’, 1% ‘open-slot shallow injection’ and less than 0.5% ‘closed-slot deep injection’).

Data is based on the number of respondents to this question in the Agricultural and Horticultural Census Module of June 2023 only.

Previous data was gathered as part of the Scottish Survey of Farm Structure and Methods in 2016. While not directly comparable with the 2023 figures, this included the numbers of holdings applying manure and slurry, and tonnage, by method:

Method of manure and slurry application by tonnage, Scotland 2016

holdings tonnes
Broadcast
Ploughed in or injected within four hours 920 385,842
ploughed in after four hours 5,146 2,117,346
Not ploughed in or injected 4,957 9,322,483
Bandspread
Trailing hose 550 4,178,295
Trailing shoe 294 602,161
Injection
Shallow/open slot 63 576,821
Deep/closed slot 11 31,043
Total applied 9,246 17,213,991

The Sustainable Agricultural Capital Grants Scheme (SACGS) 2022 focused on providing support for low-emission slurry spreading equipment and slurry store covers that are proven to reduce harmful ammonia emissions and reduce adverse impacts on water quality resulting from the storage and spreading of livestock slurry and digestate.

Indicator: Area of woodland on agricultural land.

Policy Outcome: 6

Indicator: Area of woodland on agricultural land.

On-track Assessment (Milestones/Targets): Based on trend.

Most Recent Data: 2021

Data Source(s): Forestry Statistics 2022 Table 1.12

Assessment: on track

Commentary: The area of farm woodland in Scotland increased between 2012 and 2021. The area of farm woodland in Scotland increased from 445 thousand hectares to 550 thousand hectares over the period 2012 to 2021.The area of woodland on agricultural land was estimated using data from the June Agricultural Census and administrative data sources. Data is currently available up to 2021 and published by Forest Research. Please note that users should use this data with caution following methodological changes in 2015.

The June Agricultural Census was reviewed in 2022, and this work highlighted further quality concerns with the farm woodland data, and therefore, estimates are not currently available after 2021.

Area of farm woodland, Scotland 2012 to 2021 (thousand hectares)
2012 445
2013 467
2014 479
2015 524
2016 502
2017 560
2018 532
2019 529
2020 546
2021 550
Area of farm woodland, Scotland 2012 to 2021 (thousand hectares)
Dark blue line shows area of farm woodland rising from 445 thousand hectares to 550 thousand hectares.

8.3 Part C – Information on Implementation of Individual Policies

Outcome 1: A more productive, sustainable agriculture sector that significantly contributes towards delivering Scotland’s climate change, and wider environmental outcomes through an increased uptake of climate mitigation measures by farmers, crofters, land managers and other primary food producers.

Policy: Scale up the Agricultural Transformation Programme across all the policies, including monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the pilot Sustainable Agricultural Capital Grant Scheme that will enable farmers and crofters to purchase equipment that should assist in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, and support practice change

Date announced: 2019-20 PfG

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Government continues to take forward actions to deliver the ambitions set in the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture. It includes a phased transitional approach to the new Future Support Framework, which was outlined in the updated Agricultural Reform Route Map during summer 2024. The Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board continues to support the implementation of policy reform.

Scottish Government continues to update farmers and crofters on the changes that are coming, what they need to do to prepare, and the support that is on offer:

  • The Agricultural Reform Route Map continues to be updated regularly.
  • In July 2024, the Scottish Government wrote to all farmers and crofters (who completed a Single Application Form in 2024), letting them know what is changing in 2025 and where they can find more information and support.
  • Our Agricultural Reform Programme Road Shows in 2024 visited 26 events across the country, to talk directly to farmers and crofters about the changes, and
  • In November 2024, the Scottish Government published a guide to the changes in the Scottish Farmer.

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 18 June 2024 and received Royal Assent on 30 July 2024. It provides the powers required to deliver the Agricultural Reform Programme and includes the facilitation of climate mitigation as an overarching objective of Scottish agricultural policy. It also introduced new requirements, including the publication of a Rural Support Plan every five years, with the first plan to be published in 2025 and a “Code of Practice for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture”.The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/380) came into force on 1 January 2025. The regulations added a calving interval requirement to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme which aims to encourage beef farmers to undertake steps that will help to reduce the emissions' intensity of their cattle production systems and make them more financially efficient as well as enhanced requirements under Cross Compliance to protect peatlands and wetlands

The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025) to bring into force the Whole Farm Plan (WFP) came into effect on 5 March 2025. The WFP will help businesses to make more informed use of the future support framework, selecting options that are right for their individual business and allowing them to be able to better identify opportunities for improvement, while working towards being more productive and profitable and better positioning themselves to contribute to meeting Scotland’s climate and nature targets and delivering on the Vision for Agriculture.

As part of the eligibility requirement for Basic Payment Scheme in 2025, businesses must undertake (from the WFP) two from the following five baselines: Animal Health and Welfare Plan, Biodiversity Audit, Carbon Audit, Integrated Pest Management Plan or Soil Analysis. By 2028 at the latest, all businesses will need to have all relevant plans and audits in place, including Nutrient Management Plans which are being added to the WFP by 2028.

The Agricultural Transformation (Programme) Fund (ATF) is broad fund which is intended to underpin support for the agricultural sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve efficiency, and enhance Scotland’s natural environment through the period of transition. The capital budget for ATF in 2024 was £3 million, plus a further £1.47 million from the Agri Environment Climate Scheme. It extended support for slurry storage and to increase the provision of irrigation lagoons across Scotland. Applications exceeded the original budget of £4.47 million, including 132 applications for slurry stores with a value of £5.96 million. Additional funding was made available to meet the excess demand. This fund is complemented by the Preparing for Sustainable Farming support.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • Continue to increase awareness of timescales for Agricultural Reform throughout 2025.
  • Under the Whole Farm Plan, all businesses by 2028 will be required to complete all plans, with the introduction of Nutrient Management plans by 2028.
  • First Rural Support Plan is expected to be published in 2025.

Policy: Develop rural support policy to enable, encourage and where appropriate, require the shift to low carbon, sustainable farming through emissions reduction, sustainable food production, improving biodiversity, planting biomass crops and appropriate land use change developed in line with just transition principles.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 will help support the introduction of the Future Support Framework (FSF) and will introduce new requirements, including the publication of a “Rural Support Plan” and a “Code of Practice for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture”.

The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025) to bring into force the Whole Farm Plan (WFP) came into effect on 05 March 2025. The WFP will help all our farmers and crofters do more to produce food sustainably, to cut emissions, and to farm more for nature.

In February 2025, the First Minister re-confirmed 70% of funding would be allocated to Tiers 1 and 2 of the Future Support Framework. Of that 70% it being split 70/30 between Tiers 1 and Tiers 2. With The First Minister emphasising farmers and crofters will be expected to do more for the climate and farm more sustainably to continue to receive this funding. The policy approach ensures the majority of funding will remain open to the majority of farmers and crofters as they transition to the new future support Framework. Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) is continuing to deliver transitional support for businesses to prepare for the future. PSF focuses on incentives to farmers and crofters to help them understand their carbon emissions and sequestration, identifying recommendations that can lower these emissions and increase efficiencies. Scottish farmers, crofters, and agricultural contractors can claim funding for carbon audits, soil sampling and analysis and animal health and welfare interventions until the end of February 2026.

Claims submitted under PSF between 1 January 2022 to 6 March 2025

Scheme Claims Submitted Claim value
Carbon Audits 4046 £2,023,000.00
Animal Health and Welfare 3746 £2,397,000.00
Soil Analysis 4735 £5,038,152.45
Total 12527 £9,458,152.45

The Scottish Government expect to have launched a consultation in the early part of 2025 on our Just Transition Plan for Land Use and Agriculture. An extensive series of Just Transition stakeholder events, both in-person and online, took place across the country during 2023 and into 2024. These included eleven community-based workshops in rural areas, focusing exclusively on the land use and agriculture sector. They have provided access to a wealth of insight and lived experience of those who live and work on Scotland’s land, helping inform the ongoing consultation process.

The consultation on the draft Bioenergy Policy Statement closed in June 2024 and sought evidence for the use of bioenergy, as well as views on the potential to scale up domestic production of biomass via planting of perennial energy crops, while the draft policy statement also recognised the potential synergies and trade-offs between goals for bioenergy, biodiversity, and food production. The evidence provided in the consultation will now be used to develop future policy positions, which will then be published in a final Bioenergy Policy Statement expected in 2025.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The Preparing for Sustainable Farming has been extended, and farmers and crofters will be able to continue to access payments and funding to carry out soil analysis, carbon audits, and animal health and welfare interventions up until the end of February 2026.
  • Final Bioenergy Policy Statement expected in 2025.
  • Basic Payment Scheme remains in place.
  • From 2026, we will launch the new Enhanced Payment (Tier 2), which will focus on measures that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore and improve nature
  • From 2027 we will seek to deliver further elements of the Future Support Framework, including Elective (tier 3) and Complementary support payment (Tier 4).
  • A formal consultation on the Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan will be launched in 2025.

Policy: Develop new schemes and approaches to support low carbon, sustainable farming, including through the Programme Board for the Beef Suckler Climate Group, other farmer-led groups on arable, dairy, and high value, nature farming and crofting which will report in 2021.

Date announced: 2020-21 PfG and Agriscot 2020

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Government continues to update farmers and crofters on the changes that are coming, what they need to do to prepare, and the support that is on offer. The Agricultural Reform Route Map continues to be updated regularly, including during summer 2024, when updated detailed requirements for 2025 were published. The Preparing for Sustainable Farming is continuing to deliver transitional support for businesses to prepare for the future with three options that Scottish farmers, crofters, and agricultural contractors can claim funding for: carbon audits, soil sampling and analysis, and animal health and welfare interventions.

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 will provide the powers required to deliver the Agricultural Reform Programme. It will help support the introduction of a Future Support Framework (FSF).

The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025) brought into force the Whole Farm Plan (WFP). The WFP will help businesses to make more informed use of the future support framework, selecting options that are right for their individual business.

The Scottish Government continues to work with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) as the delivery partner for the MyHerdStats (MHS) dashboard on both the maintenance and development. As of February 2025, sections delivered included those on Livestock Reconciliation and Stocktake, with several others in progress, such as the summary dashboard, calving interval section, abattoir weight and grade data, and deadweight cattle performance. Engagement is high, and the admin dashboard showed figures of over 3,250 County Parish Holdings having accessed MHS, around 30% of Scottish cattle keepers, an increase of 250 since December 2024. In January 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands approved the extension of Preparing for Sustainable Farming funding for MHS.

The Scottish Government continues to support land managers to undertake actions that help to mitigate and adapt to climate change and restore nature through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). The results of the 2024 round of AECS will see £7.1 million committed to 391 businesses in 2025-26. Following the awards from the 2024 round, to date a total of over £342 million has been committed to 3,435 businesses to fund a range of activities that help to maintain and enhance our rich and varied natural environment since the scheme launched in 2015.The 2025/26 Scottish Budget announced £23 million (including £20 million ring-fenced monies) to support transformation and reform in Scotland’s farming and food production industry. Proposals for the £20 million are currently being prepared, however The First Minister announced announced £14 million will be allocated to delivering the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS). The FFIS will offer flexible support for capital items that can be used to improve efficiency or support nature and climate-friendly farming. This forms part of the commitment to restore £46 million funding to the agricultural budget. Farmers, land managers, rural communities, and rural businesses should see the remaining £26 million in the budget for the following financial year.

The Scottish Government continued to work in partnership with NatureScot to deliver the Farming with Nature programme in 2024 to support positive management for climate and biodiversity and collaborative action across landholdings at a field, farm, and landscape level. This included wider user testing of the Farm Biodiversity Scotland App and continued development of the Landscape-Scale Natural Capital Tool, which is working towards launch in 2025.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The Preparing for Sustainable Farming has been extended, and farmers and crofters will be able to continue to access payments and funding to carry out soil analysis, carbon audits, and animal health and welfare interventions, up until the end of February 2026.
  • Further information on the Future Farming Investment Scheme will be made available during 2025.
  • Basic Payment Scheme remains in place.
  • From 2026, we will launch the new Enhanced Payment (Tier 2), which will focus on measures that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore and improve nature
  • From 2027 we will seek to deliver further elements of the Future Support Framework, including Elective (tier 3) and Complementary support payment (Tier 4).
  • The 2025 round of Agri-Environment Climate Scheme opened for applications in February 2025 and sees the restrictions on Creation and Restoration of Hedgerows and Pond Creation lifted
  • Work will continue on the development of MyHerdStats in 2025-26.
  • Continue to increase awareness of timescales for Agricultural Reform throughout 2025.

Policy: Introduce Environmental Conditionality, from 2021 via implementation of the Beef Suckler Climate Report and, more widely from 2022, through the review of existing CAP Greening which will extend the requirements to all farmers and crofters to undertake environmental actions.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/380) added a calving interval requirement to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme and enhanced requirements under Cross Compliance to protect peatlands and wetlands, while The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025) brought into force the Whole Farm Plan.

The Scottish Government continues to update farmers and crofters on the changes that are coming to agricultural support, what they need to do to prepare, and the support that is on offer. The Agricultural Reform Route Map continues to be updated regularly, including during summer 2024, when updated detailed requirements for 2025 were published. For example, advising: Basic Payment Scheme (Tier 1), which provides an element of financial certainty for farmers and crofters engaged in food production and actively managing the land, will remain in place. From 2026 launch the new Enhanced Payment (Tier 2), which will focus on measures that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore and improve nature. From 2027 we will seek to deliver further elements of the FSF, including Elective (Tier 3), which will focus on funding targeted actions for climate change or nature restoration and Complementary support payment (Tier 4), which will focus on providing applicants with the skills and advice.In February 2025, the First Minister confirmed the funding split between Tiers 1 and 2 of the Future Support Framework. The policy approach ensures the majority of funding will remain open to the majority of farmers and crofters with the First Minister emphasising farmers and crofters will be expected to do more for the climate and farm more sustainably to continue to receive this funding.

The Preparing for Sustainable Farming is continuing to deliver transitional support for businesses to prepare for the future with three options that Scottish farmers, crofters, and agricultural contractors can claim funding for: carbon audits, soil sampling and analysis, and animal health and welfare interventions.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The Preparing for Sustainable Farming has been extended, and farmers and crofters will be able to continue to access payments and funding to carry out soil analysis, carbon audits, and animal health and welfare interventions, up until the end of February 2026.
  • Under the Whole Farm Plan, all businesses by 2028 will be required to complete all plans, with the introduction of Nutrient Management plans by 2028.
  • Basic Payment Scheme remains in place.
  • From 2026, we will launch the new Enhanced Payment (Tier 2), which will focus on measures that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore and improve nature
  • From 2027 we will seek to deliver further elements of the Future Support Framework, including Elective (tier 3) and Complementary support payment (Tier 4).
  • Continue to increase awareness of timescales for Agricultural Reform throughout 2025.

Policy: Further provision of advice for farmers and crofters who wish to retire: A new commitment to work with stakeholders to provide advice, including further extending the Land Matching Service and guidance for farmers and crofters who wish to step back from agricultural businesses by providing an opportunity to consider alternative land-uses or alternative agricultural uses

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Land Matching Service (SLMS) launched in September 2019 and is a free service offering independent advice and facilitation to those considering options for joint ventures in farming. It is available to anyone either seeking an opportunity to start on a joint farming venture (Seekers) or those looking to offer an opportunity on their farm (Providers).

In relation to farming opportunities, SLMS has received:

  • 797 enquiries; of that, 599 were Seeker enquiries, 170 were Provider enquiries, and 28 General Enquiries.
  • From the 797 enquiries, 54 individuals have been successfully matched, 312 individual enquiries have been ‘facilitated’, and 123 are marked ‘inactive’ or ‘archived’.
  • As of 1 March 2025, there are 283 Seekers, 26 Providers and 1 General Enquiry currently active on the database.

In relation to crofting, SLMS has received

  • 528 enquiries; of that, 519 were Seekers enquiries, 4 were Providers enquiries, and 5 General Enquiries.
  • From the 528 enquiries, 1 set of Seekers and Providers have been matched, 156 Seekers & 5 General Enquiries are classified as inactive, archived, or facilitated, and 3 Providers have been classified as facilitated.
  • Leaving a total of 362 Seekers currently active on the database.

Note: An enquiry is considered ‘facilitated’ when advice is provided that satisfies the enquirers needs.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • Scottish Government is currently actively seeking to procure the next SLMS. It is anticipated that any contract will last for a minimum of three years.

Outcome 2: More farmers, crofters, land managers and other primary food producers are aware of the benefits and practicalities of cost effective climate mitigation measures.

Policy: The dissemination of information and advice on climate change mitigation measures in agriculture through a range of communication methods utilising technology and all media to best effect.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The current Scottish Farm Advisory Service (FAS) contract commenced in July 2024 and will conclude at the end of March 2027 (with an optional extension of up to 12 months). During 2024, FAS has continued to offer access to up- to-date and relevant climate change mitigation knowledge and information to all farmers and crofters through a network of advisory centres, peer-to-peer support groups, online resources, and a telephone advice facility. We conservatively estimate that over 50% of FAS activity was around climate change adaptation and mitigation support. FAS event attendees highlighted an improved knowledge of climate change, improved soil/nutrient management, and improved knowledge of environmental issues and opportunities. FAS also now contains the guidance and support material that previously appeared on the Farming for a Better Climate website.The Monitor Farm programme continues to instigate positive transformational change in innovative sustainable farming practices on nine Scottish farms and to use the learnings from these farms for the benefit of farmers across Scotland. The programme aims to build resilient, dynamic farms focused on attaining full economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The Monitor Farms have been successful in facilitating practical and effective knowledge exchange and have positively impacted on farm practices and performances, with feedback from meetings and events of over 70% of attendees planning to make a change (such as forage budgeting, taking faecal egg counts, utilising soil testing, blood sampling for minerals, and water pump to utilise more rotational grazing) after attending a Monitor Farm event.

The Next Generation Practical Training Fund supports new entrants to farming. One of its aims is to encourage more new and prospective new entrants/next generation to uptake training courses, including on ‘climate change adaptation and mitigation practices and biodiversity/habitats improvement.’ The Fund has supported several young people (ranging from children, adults leaving university, and career changers) looking to enter the agricultural sector by offering them practical skills in agriculture.

The Scottish Government also continues to communicate, educate, and demonstrate the benefits of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures through initiatives like the Integrating Tree Network and Farming and Water Scotland.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The existing Scottish Farm Advisory Service (FAS) contract will continue until 31 March 2027 (with an optional extension of up to 12 months). It is intended that FAS will be included in the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System post April 2027.
  • The Monitor Farm programme has funding until 2026.

Policy: An agri-tech group will be established to share, disseminate, and encourage adoption of advances in agricultural science and technology as widely as possible

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Completed. The agri-tech group concluded, and engagement with industry on agricultural science and technology has continued through the farmer-led groups, Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board, and the National Test Programme.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: Launch a new and expanded peer to peer knowledge transfer initiative based on the success of our Young Climate Change Champions work.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Completed - The Agriculture Biodiversity and Climate Change Network launched in June 2022.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: Realign and enhance our established programmes and initiatives such as the Farm Advisory Service, the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund and Monitor Farm Programme to create a more cohesive approach to ensure advice and support is focussed on helping industry to professionalise to support sustainable farming.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act contains provisions to establish a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) regime and for support for knowledge, innovation, education, and training. Work has been undertaken to start to explore the inter-relationship of the Tiers in the Agricultural Reform Programme to see how CPD could be incorporated into it and the best ways that CPD could be used in the sector.

The Scottish Government has also analysed views received to an informal consultation on the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) and these are being used to further help develop proposals for the AKIS and the CPD regime in Tier 4 of the Agriculture Support Package. Research through a SEFARI fellowship to evaluate the implementation and emergent outcomes of the AKIS measures identified in European member states’ CAP Strategic Plans (2023-2027) was published in November 2024.

Promoting resource efficiency and supporting a shift towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy in agriculture is one of the objectives of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund. Projects were funded through the 2024 KTIF round to a value of £200K. Since 2015, the Scottish Government has supported 63 projects under KTIF with approximately £8.3 million awarded.

To support small producers, the Small Producers Pilot Fund (SPPF) aims to support a range of Scottish Government outcomes including ‘Climate: to promote adaptive and sustainable as well as regenerative, climate and environmentally friendly practices enabling small producer participation in the transition to net zero and the achieving of environmental and biodiversity targets.’ In 2024-25, £1 million of resource funding was allocated to SPPF and the Scottish Government is currently in the process of procuring a practical training fund, all of which will support small producers.

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service has continued to offer easy access to up-to-date and relevant climate change mitigation knowledge and the Scottish Government continues to communicate, educate, and demonstrate the benefits of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures through initiatives like the Integrating Tree Network and Farming and Water Scotland.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • Work will continue during 2025 on considering the governance structure of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System.
  • Work will continue during 2025 to explore the inter-relationship of the Tiers in the Agricultural Reform Programme to see how Continuing Professional Development (CPD) could be incorporated into it and options for a CPD regime.
  • The existing Scottish Farm Advisory Service (FAS) contract will continue until 31 March 2027 (with an optional extension of up to 12 months).

Policy: Carbon Audits: in 2018, we will consult on how best to ensure maximum take up of carbon audits and how to enable tenant farmers and crofters in particular to benefit.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Under Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF), farmers and crofters can claim funding towards carbon audits to improve their knowledge of current environmental performance and improve efficiency. The Scottish Government will build on this by raising awareness during scheme year 2025. Since January 2022, PSF has funded 2,123 carbon audits. Carbon audits have also been funded through (FAS) and since 2016, 2,544 carbon audits have been delivered and completed.

From 2025, under the Whole Farm Plan (WFP) all businesses claiming basic support payments will be expected to have started carrying out two out of five plans, one of which is a carbon audit. By 2028 all businesses will be required to complete all plans under the WFP, with the introduction of Nutrient Management plans being added by 2028.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • Preparing for Sustainable Farming has been extended, and farmers and crofters will be able to continue to access funding for completing a carbon audit until the end of February 2026.
  • The Whole Farm Plan commences in 2025; all businesses will be expected to have all of the plans and audits in place by 2028, with Nutrient Management Plans being added by 2028.

Policy: We will explore with stakeholders, including the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and the Tenant Farming Commissioner, how best to engage tenant farmers to increase understanding of the environmental and economic benefits of low carbon farming.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Tenants and Trees group continues to hold discussions involving stakeholders on how to engage tenant farmers via the Tenant Farming Advisory Forum.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (the Bill) was introduced in March 2024. The land management tenancy provision will create a new approach to land management, enabling people and communities to undertake a range of land management activities that help to deliver net zero, biodiversity, and sustainable and regenerative agricultural ambitions. It includes a number of measures to radically reform tenant farming legislation to make it fit for the future. It will provide more opportunities for tenant farmers to deliver improvements to the land they work, become more sustainable and productive, and play their part in supporting biodiversity and climate change. The Bill is still being considered by Parliament.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill continues its progress through the Scottish Parliament.

Policy: Marketing scheme: Determine the feasibility of a Low Carbon Farming marketing scheme.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Completed - Naturally Scottish launched in January 2024.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Outcome 3: Nitrogen emissions, including from nitrogen fertiliser, will have fallen through a combination of improved understanding, efficiencies, and improved soil condition.

Policy: Communicate and demonstrate the benefits of precision farming and nitrogen use efficiency in order to achieve a reduction in GHG emissions.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Government funded Farming and Water Scotland provides guidance and advice to farmers and crofters on diffuse pollution and the water environment, including nutrient management . It also includes ‘Know the Rules’ information, which highlights what farmers need to do to comply with new requirements for slurry spreading under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Scotland Regulations 2021.

The Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA) code of good practice was reviewed and updated during 2024. A new version of the PEPFAA is available on the Farming and Water Scotland website. It provides practical advice to reduce nitrogen emissions to the environment while benefitting the farm business. Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) provides guidance and advice on precision farming and nitrogen use efficiency, while The Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones provides mandatory measures aiming to ensure that within NVZs nitrogen fertilisers are used following best farming practice. Advice on following the Action Programme measures is found on FAS and the Scottish Government’s website.

The current iteration of the Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet (SNBS) was published in May 2024, with the accompanying progress report. The SNBS will continue to help support progress towards Scotland’s national climate targets by tracking nitrogen use efficiency. In addition, it will support a range of wider policy applications, such as air quality and the promotion of efficiency in food product.

Under Preparing for Sustainable Farming, we continue to offer funding for carbon audits and soil sampling to help farmers understand their current performance and identify opportunities for improvement. The aim of the option is to improve nutrient planning and nutrient management. It should reduce the loss of nutrients to the environment, reduce diffuse pollution and emissions, and improve carbon capture on farmland.

From 2025, under the Whole Farm Plan (WFP) all businesses claiming basic support payments will be expected to have started carrying out two out of five plans, and then all businesses by 2028 will be required to complete all plans under the WFP, with the introduction of Nutrient Management plans being added by 2028.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The existing Scotland Farm Advisory Service (FAS) contract will continue until 31 March 2027 (with an optional extension of up to 12 months).
  • The next Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet is expected to be published in May 2025.
  • Under the Whole Farm Plan, all businesses by 2028 will be required to complete all plans, with the introduction of Nutrient Management plans by 2028.

Policy: Work with the agriculture and science sectors regarding the feasibility and development of a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound) target for reducing Scotland’s emissions from nitrogen fertiliser.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Government commissioned ClimateXChange (CXC) to produce a report on “Target setting for nitrogen use efficiency in Scotland” which was published in November 2024. It recommended that a nitrogen use efficiency target for Scottish agriculture should not be set.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: From 2018 we expect farmers to test the soil on all improved land every five or six years, and we will work with them to establish how best to achieve this.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Under Preparing for Sustainable Farming, land managers in Scotland will continue to be able to claim for their soil sampling and analysis during 2025. The aim is to improve nutrient planning and nutrient management along with a payment to cover personal development. This will encourage the best use of nutrients from inorganic and organic fertiliser by matching applications to crop requirements. It should reduce the loss of nutrients to the environment and improve soil health.

From 2025, under the Whole Farm Plan (WFP) all businesses claiming basic support payments will be expected to have started carrying out two out of five plans, and then all businesses by 2028 will be required to complete all plans under the WFP, with the introduction of Nutrient Management plans being added by 2028.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The Preparing for Sustainable Farming has been extended, and farmers and crofters will be able to continue to access payments and funding, up until the end of February 2026.
  • Under the Whole Farm Plan all businesses by 2028 will be required to complete all plans, with the introduction of Nutrient Management plans by 2028.

Policy: Investigate the benefits and barriers of leguminous crops in rotation.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Environment, natural resources and agriculture - Strategic Research Programme 2022 to 2027, has two projects which, continue to run and are considering legumes, the projects are:

  • The Impact of Novel Crops and Farming Technologies on the Scottish Agricultural Landscape.
  • Crop Improvement for Sustainable production in a Changing Environment.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The projects under the Environment, natural resources, and agriculture - Strategic Research Programme, will run until March 2027.

Policy: Crop varieties with improved nitrogen-use efficiency.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Environment, natural resources, and agriculture - Strategic Research Programme 2022-2027 has two projects which, continue to run and are considering this, the projects are:

  • The Impact of Novel Crops and Farming Technologies on the Scottish Agricultural Landscape.
  • Exploring Barley Diversity for resilience and sustainability.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The projects under the Environment, natural resources, and agriculture - Strategic Research Programme, will run until March 2027.

Outcome 4: Reduced emissions from red meat and dairy through improved emissions intensity.

Policy: Commission and publish a report into the establishment of emissions intensity figures for beef, lamb, and milk.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Completed – August 2018 – ClimateXChange published “Emission intensity of Scottish agricultural commodities”.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: Work with Quality Meat Scotland, ScotEID and livestock producers to encourage improved emissions intensity through genotyping, improving fertility, reducing animal mortality, and improving on farm management practices.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Government continues to work with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) as the delivery partner for the MyHerdStats (MHS) dashboard on both the maintenance and development. As of February 2025, sections delivered included those on livestock reconciliation and stocktake. Several other sections are progressing such as the summary dashboard, calving interval section, abattoir weight and grade data, and deadweight cattle performance. Engagement is high; the admin dashboard showed figures of over 3,250 county parish holdings having accessed MHS, around 30% of Scottish cattle keepers, an increase of 250 since December 2024. In January 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands approved the extension of Preparing for Sustainable Farming funding for MHS. The Scottish Government are awaiting further proposals from SAOS to continue work on MHS in 2025/26.

The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/380) came into force on 1 January 2025 and added a condition to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme so that calves would only be eligible for a payment if their dam has a calving interval threshold of 410 days or less, or if the calf is the first registered birth associated with that dam. This aims to improve productivity and so reduce emissions intensity.

Embedding the principles of sustainable livestock management will be key to attaining statutory climate change targets through improving the efficiency of livestock farms. In 2023 Animal Health and Welfare (AHW) provisions were added to Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) to encourage uptake of well-established preventive veterinary medicine that increases cattle and sheep health, welfare, and production efficiency, leading to reduced Green House Gas emissions per kg of output (milt and meat). Latest figures under PSF show 3746 AHW claims since launch, worth a value of £2,397 million. The AHW interventions under PSF are again available during 2025.

The Scottish Government is currently funding a national pilot to help control Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma in the national sheep flock. This project aims to improve productivity and efficiency within the flock through improved biosecurity and animal health interventions.

The Scottish Government is funding a sheep scab control pilot on Lewis and Harris which is currently in its third year and will end in March 2025. A second round of the OP plunge dipping campaign was carried out in Autumn 2024 and successfully dipped just under 30,000 sheep, which was an increase on the previous year. The Scottish Government is currently looking at creating a legacy for sheep scab controls on Lewis and Harris and are working with the Lewis and Harris Sheep Producers Association to achieve this.

Animal health and welfare guidance is available through Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service and on the Scottish Government Animal Health and Welfare pages.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • Under the Whole Farm Plan, all businesses by 2028 will be required to complete all plans, with the introduction of Nutrient Management plans by 2028.
  • The Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Pilot will end March 2026.
  • The Sheep scab control pilot on Lewis and Harris will end March 2025.
  • Continue to monitor the effect of the introduction of a calving interval threshold on businesses. The calving interval threshold may lower in future years.

Policy: Determine the practicality of establishing a SMART target for reduction in the intensity of emissions for beef, sheep, and dairy sectors.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu: The Scottish Government continues to work with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society as the delivery partner for the Livestock Digital Data project. This project has supported the development of a dashboard to provide all beef farmers in Scotland with performance indicators, literature suggests improvements to these performance metrics supports reductions in emissions intensity. The project also has a pilot, ending at the end of the financial year 2024/2025, with a final report due thereafter, which will help support policy development on how capital funding schemes and knowledge transfer could be deployed in the future to best effect.Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: Consider the Livestock Digital Data pilot report.

Policy: Consult in 2018 to determine the nature of livestock health measures that the sector will adopt from 2019.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Completed - The detailed proposals and ideas supplied by the farmer led groups' reports continue to be considered as we work to create a new Future Support Framework.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: Determine the practicalities and feasibility of using livestock feed additives as a means of reducing emissions.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

In April 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy announced a pilot scheme with some Scottish farms to establish future appropriate uptake of methane suppressing feed products/additives. This pilot is being developed, but it is currently envisaged that it will contribute to establishing how future support can recognise uptake of these products as well as encouraging pioneering Scottish dairy farms to engage with the potential of these products.

The Scottish Government published its draft Agricultural Reform List of Measures back in February 2023, outlining the intention to develop future agricultural support conditionality options, which could recognise appropriate uptake of methane suppressing feed products by farmers.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Outcome 5: Reduced emissions from the use and storage of manure and slurry.

Policy: Engaging with farmers to explore their support requirements, establish how they can improve the use and storage of manure and slurry, including the potential for cooperatively owned and managed anaerobic digesters.

Date announced: Dec 2020, beforeCCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 updated and consolidated a range of measures to reduce emissions from the use and storage of manure and slurry, including anaerobic digestate, to protect the water environment. The measures are being introduced through a transitional period up to 1 January 2027 and include structural and storage capacity standards for slurry stores and introduce low-emission slurry application equipment requirements.

Since January 2024, silage and slurry stores built after 1991 (or that were substantially reconstructed or enlarged on or after 1st Sept 1991) and those with planning permission but not yet constructed must now be structurally compliant, and all liquid digestate stores constructed before January, or where planning permission was granted prior to 1st Jan 2022, must also now meet the requirements within the regulations. The Farming and Water Scotland website provides information that highlights what farmers need to do to comply with these new requirements. A variety of awareness raising events were also delivered in 2024.

The Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity code of good practice was reviewed and updated in 2024. A new version is available on the Farming and Water Scotland website. It provides practical advice to reduce emissions whilst benefiting the farm business from the use and storage of manure and slurry.

The Agricultural Transformation Fund 2024 was £3 million, plus a further £1.47 million from the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme. It extended support for slurry storage across Scotland. The Scottish Government actively encouraged the sector to apply for this funding, as the 2024 ATF round was the last opportunity for the sector to apply for slurry stores support before changes to the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 come into force in 2026. Applications exceeded the original budget of £4.47 million, with 132 applications for slurry stores, with a value of £5.96 million received. Additional funding was made available to meet the excess demand.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps

  • From 1 January 2026, Silage and slurry stores built before 1991 (and not substantially enlarged or reconstructed since 1991) must be fully compliant and slurry stores located outside an NVZ must have capacity to store the total slurry likely to be produced in 26 weeks by housed pigs or 22 weeks by housed cattle by 2026.
  • From 1 January 2027, all slurry application must be applied using precision equipment.

Policy: Investigate the practicalities of livestock grazing in rotation on current arable land.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Completed - The East/West Beed Grazing Collaboration Pilot run by Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society was supported under the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund to work toward establishing evidence on the financial and environmental value of moving cattle to lower cost natural resources. The group produced case studies showing there are environmental and carbon sequestration benefits, especially where fodder crops are grown and grazed gradually over the winter period. The findings included significant potential fuel savings, that adopting 294 rotational grazing negates the necessity for artificial fertilisers and intensely farming the fields and that it was on the whole a low cost, low carbon system with less reliance on cereals-based diets and greater utilisation of grazing ground both in the summer and winter.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: Conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of manure/ slurry exchange.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu: Completed - Slurry Storage on Scottish Farms – A Feasibility Study

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: Determine how to consistently minimise emissions from slurry storage.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

Research includes Slurry Storage on Scottish Farms – A Feasibility Study and Microsoft Word - IQ26-2019 - establishing a manure-slurry exchange in Scotland-a feasibility study - FINAL - 8 June 2020.docx

The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 updated and consolidated a range of measures to reduce emissions from the storage and application of organic materials such as silage, slurry, and liquid digestate to protect the water environment. These measures are being introduced through a transitional period up to 1 January 2027. The Farming and Water Scotland website provides information which highlights what farmers need to do to comply with these new requirements.

The Scottish Government funded 132 applications for slurry stores through the 2024 round of the Agricultural Transformation Fund, with a value of £5.96 million, and will continue to monitor the impact of the recent current support which was offered for slurry stores and will consider if any further action, guidance, and support could be taken.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: Review management of storage and application of organic materials such as silage, slurry and liquid digestate, including what support may be required to ensure best practice.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 updated and consolidated a range of measures to reduce emissions from the storage and application of organic materials such as silage, slurry, and liquid digestate to protect the water environment. These measures are being introduced through a transitional period up to 1 January 2027. The Farming and Water Scotland website provides information which highlights what farmers need to do to comply with these new requirements.

The Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity code of good practice was reviewed and updated in 2024. A new version is available on the Farming and Water Scotland website. It provides practical advice to reduce emissions whilst benefitting the farm business from the use and storage of manure and slurry.

The Scottish Government funded 132 applications for slurry stores through the 2024 round of the Agricultural Transformation Fund, with a value of £5.96 million, and will continue to monitor the impact of the recent current support which was offered for slurry stores and will consider if any further action, guidance, and support could be taken.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • From 1 January 2026, Silage and slurry stores built before 1991 (and not substantially enlarged or reconstructed since 1991) must be fully compliant and slurry stores located outside an NVZ must have capacity to store the total slurry likely to be produced in 26 weeks by housed pigs or 22 weeks by housed cattle by 2026.
  • From 1 January 2027, all slurry application must be applied using precision equipment.

Outcome 6: Carbon sequestration and existing carbon stores on agricultural land have helped to increase and maintain our carbon sink.

Policy: Explore with the farming and forestry sectors how best to increase planting of trees and hedgerows which optimise carbon sequestration, including the role of agroforestry.

Date announced: 2020

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Integrating Trees Network (ITN) is a joint Scottish Government and Scottish Forestry initiative. It is farmer-led and brings together twelve host farmers, who during 2024 shared their knowledge and expertise through a series of online and in-person events with other farmers and crofters who have shown an interest in planting trees on their land. Since 2021, the ITN has held over forty events, and through the ITN website it makes available videos, case studies, and publications, which aim to showcase the many benefits of planting trees on farms. The ITN initiative won the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management award for Best Practice Knowledge Sharing in 2024.

The trees on farms sub-group of the Scottish Forestry Customer Representatives Group met throughout 2024. The forum is a collective for discussion around better integration of trees on farms and to articulate improvements in support to encourage further integration of trees on farms. A vital aspect of this work is to help to reverse polarisation of views in relation to woodland expansion and the perceived impact on the agricultural community, strengthening the integration of woodlands and agriculture, including the interaction between the Forestry Grant Scheme and proposals for the elective component of future support schemes for agriculture.

The Tenants and Trees group continues to hold discussions involving stakeholders on how to engage tenant farmers via the Tenant Farming Advisory Forum.

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 provides the powers required to deliver the Agricultural Reform Programme. The Act contains a provision to allow for support to be provided to assist persons to create areas of woodland, manage woodland (and the creation of new areas of woodland) in a sustainable way, and develop and use systems in which trees are grown in combination with agricultural activity.

The Scottish Government is exploring potential additional measures to support tree planting on farms and crofts through the future agricultural support scheme.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The Integrating Trees Network will continue to support farmers and crofters throughout 2025.

Policy: Investigate the feasibility of payment for carbon sequestration taking into account any existing schemes such as the woodland carbon code as a means of encouraging the uptake of carbon sequestration on farms

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Government continues to provide funding for The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS) managed by NatureScot. FIRNS funds projects testing different aspects of natural capital market development in Scotland, including voluntary carbon markets; for example, one project it has supported is the Soil Association - Governance mechanisms for whole-farm and farm cluster natural capital project implementation. Under the FIRNS programme, 35 projects have been awarded funding totalling £4,759,129.

In November 2024, the Scottish Government published our Natural Capital Markets Framework. This framework document sets out actions we are taking to enable responsible, values-led investment in natural capital, including the expansion of high-integrity voluntary carbon markets and the development of opportunities to invest in biodiversity.

Scotland continues to play a predominant role in the UK woodland carbon market. There are now over 34,000 hectares of woodland validated under the Woodland Carbon Code across the UK (29,985 hectares in Scotland), which will remove over 11.4 million tonnes of CO2 (9.6 million in Scotland) from the atmosphere over their lifetimes. A further 48,000 hectares have been registered but not yet validated, 37,000 hectares of which is in Scotland, indicating a strong future pipeline of projects. The amount of validated future CO2 removals under the Woodland Carbon Code rose by 33% between 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • Details on the FIRNS 2024 applications will be announced during 2025.

Policy: Increase woodland cover on suitable agricultural land.

Date announced: CCP 2018

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Government is exploring potential additional measures to support tree planting on farms and crofts through the future agricultural support scheme.

The trees on farms sub-group of the Scottish Forestry Customer Representatives Group met throughout 2024. The forum is a collective for discussion around better integration of trees on farms and to articulate improvements in support to encourage further integration of trees on farms.

The Forestry Grant Scheme continues to offer financial support for the creation of new woodland, while the Integrating Tree Network has continued to hold events and, through the website, makes available videos, case studies, and publications, to showcase the benefits of planting trees on farms.Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • The Integrating Trees Network will continue to support farmers and crofters throughout 2025.

Policy: Building on the successful work integrating woodland with farming businesses, help remove barriers for those on agriculture holdings, particularly in the tenanted sector who want to engage in woodland creation, including exploring the potential to reform legislation where appropriate.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Tenants and Trees group continues to hold discussions involving stakeholders on how to engage tenant farmers via the Tenant Farming Advisory Forum.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament in March 2024. It includes several measures to radically reform tenant farming legislation to make it fit for the future. It will provide more opportunities for tenants to deliver improvements to the land they work on to become more sustainable and productive and play their part in supporting biodiversity and climate change, including taking advantage of tree planting.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • Land Reform (Scotland) Bill continues its progress through the Scottish Parliament.

Policy: Work with stakeholders on options to increase peatland restoration on suitable agricultural and crofting land, to support delivery of policies in the LULUCF chapter. We will map peatland against this land which will allow modelling options for land-use change and inform opportunities for targeted support of peatland restoration and management.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The Scottish Government Rural Payment Inspectorate Department is actively developing peatland restoration opportunities on Scottish Ministers’ crofting estates in collaboration with our tenants. Using Peatland Action to support and develop these proposals, this will test if the available tools are adequate to deliver restoration on crofters common grazings.

The Scottish Government consulted on proposals for Crofting Law Reform in 2024. Through changes to crofting law, we wish to remove existing legislative barriers and make it easier for peatland restoration, biodiversity enhancements, and habitat restoration initiatives to proceed on croft land and have the necessary provisions for crofters and grazings committees to take advantage of any future support systems. The Scottish Government is carefully considering what we have heard during the consultation process and will have further discussions with key stakeholders, including the Crofting Commission and other members of the Crofting Bill Group.

The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/380) came into force on 1 January 2025. It added enhanced requirements under Cross Compliance to protect peatlands and wetlands. The requirements prohibit a range of damaging agricultural activities from being carried out on peatlands and wetlands including ploughing, cultivating, draining, creating tracks and planting trees.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps: N/A

Policy: Explore options for land use change to optimise uses beyond traditional farming and food production to multifaceted land use including forestry, peatland restoration and management and biomass production.

Date announced:CCPu

Progress on implementation since time of last report / CCPu:

The three-year Regional Land Use Pilot (RLUP) programme ended in March 2024. Following on from the successes of this, the Scottish Government have committed to transition four of the pilot RLUPs to a formal initiative:

  • NorthWest 2045 region (Highland)
  • Cairngorms National Park
  • Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
  • South of Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders Councils).

This transitional period means that the partnerships can continue to develop organically whilst allowing the Scottish Government to further develop our understanding of how partnership working can help to optimise land use in a fair and inclusive way, meeting local and national objectives and supporting Scotland’s just transition to net-zero.

The Scottish Government also announced plans in April 2024 to support a wider national roll-out of RLUPs. Given wider financial pressures, this will begin in a phased roll-out once we have learned the lessons from the next stage of partnership delivery (and not before 2026).

Scotland’s third land use strategy sets out our vision, objectives, and policies to achieve sustainable land use. Scotland’s fourth Land Use Strategy is due for publication in 2026, and initial development of this began in late 2024.

In March 2024, the draft Bioenergy Policy Statement was published with the consultation on the draft Bioenergy Policy Statement closing in June 2024. The evidence provided in the consultation will be used to inform policy positions, which will be published in a final Bioenergy Policy Statement in 2025.

The integration of trees into existing agricultural businesses is very much part of the woodland creation picture in Scotland and continues to be delivered through the Forestry Grant Scheme and other 3rd party schemes, such as the Croft Woodlands Project, while the farmer-led Integrating Trees Network continues to promote the benefits of trees on farms.

Have any implementation indicators / milestones been set for this policy? If so, most recent data for progress against these: N/A

Timeframe and expected next steps:

  • Formal consultation on the development of the next Land Use Strategy will take place in 2025.
  • Plans for wider rollout of Regional Land Use Pilot will be considered form 2026.
  • The Integrating Trees Network will continue to support farmers and crofters throughout 2025.
  • Expect to publish the final Bioenergy Policy Statement in 2025.

Contact

Email: climatechangeplan@gov.scot

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