Rural Support Plan (RSP) - Annex
The Rural Support Plan as required in terms of s2 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 outlining the expected use by Scottish Ministers during the plan period of the powers conferred on them by s6 of the Act - support within the four tier framework
Enhanced Greening
Enhanced Greening - RP&S guidance
Description
Supplementary direct payment equating to 30% of BPS conditional on meeting requirement to undertake specified agricultural practices deemed as beneficial to climate/ nature
Purpose
Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture sets an ambition to make Scotland a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. We are asking farmers and crofters to do more for climate and nature. The options available under Enhanced Greening build on the standards established in Tier 1 requiring sustainable and regenerative farming practices that restore, increase, and improve habitat and biodiversity; improve air, soil, and water quality; and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions
Contribution to Strategic Outcomes
High Quality Food Production
- Improved air, soil, and water quality benefits food production
Enabling Thriving Rural Communities
- Enhanced greening options are designed to have a limited or positive impact on production enabling continued business viability and continued contribution to rural communities and the rural economy
- Enhanced greening will maintain Tier 2 support payments to support agricultural businesses in carrying out climate and biodiversity measures.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Enhanced Greening encourages the uptake of practices that reduce GHG emissions by improving Carbon Sequestration and reducing the reliance on inorganic fertilisers.
Nature Restoration
- Enhanced greening supports and encourages businesses to undertake best practices and actions that actively improve on farm biodiversity.
Method
Application via Single Application Form (SAF)
Key dates
Annual, application window – 14/15 March to 15 May, payment window – linked to BPS
Eligibility
- You must be eligible for and claim BPS
- You must claim at least 15 hectares of arable land (including temporary grassland and fallow) under BPS
- The land must be on (or for EFA hedges adjacent to) a claimed agricultural parcel
- The land must be on (excluding EFA hedges) Basic Payment Scheme eligible land
- Available Scotland wide
Requirements
- You must comply with a) protecting permanent grassland designated as environmentally sensitive, and/or b) manage 5% (7% from 2027) of your arable land as Ecological Focus Areas (“EFA” - arable land managed per the following options:- fallow land, margins, catch crops, green cover, nitrogen-fixing crops, hedges, agro-forestry, herb and legume rich pastures, unharvested crop, low input grassland or low density trees)
- You need to retain a map detailing your EFA’s location
- You will be eligible for inspections to check compliance
Baseline payment information:
Budget circa £142M
No. of recipients circa 17,000
Contact
Email: CAP.SRDP.Policy@gov.scot