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
Farm Advisory Service
Farm Advisory Service | Helping farmers in Scotland
Description
Largely free advice service for farmers, crofters and land managers covering a wide range of topics, FAS website (information, tools, groups and a calendar of events), advice line - 0300 323 0161 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or advice@fas.scot, Croft and Small Farm section, one-to-one support - grant funding for tailored support up to £2,000 for Integrated Land Management Plans, up to £1,600 for Specialist Advice, and up to £1,200 for new entrant mentoring
Purpose
The Farm Advisory Service provides high quality advice to farming businesses, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding challenges facing modern day farming. This helps to maintain business viability and aligns to the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture. This assists with delivering the aim of making Scotland a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture and to farm and croft with nature, in an environmentally friendly manner. FAS One-to-Many is built around seven topics: Animal Health and Welfare; Crofts and Small Farms; Crops and Soils; Developing People; Natural Capital; New Entrants; and Thriving Through Change.
Contribution to Strategic Outcomes
High Quality Food Production
- Advice and guidance under FAS, covering animal health and welfare; crops and soils; crofts and small farms; new entrants; developing people; and thriving through change.
Enabling Thriving Rural Communities
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation is an underpinning theme across all FAS topics and features.
Nature Restoration
- This includes advice on crops and soils. Enhancing and preserving biodiversity and habitats are underpinning themes across the FAS topics
Support for a Just Transition
- FAS provides support and advice to all farmers, crofters and land managers through a largely free-to-use service. Amongst other things this includes mentoring support for new entrants and support for peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. It also supports skills development activities, building capacity and equipping farmers, crofters and land managers with the knowledge and ability to bring about the changes that are necessary to meet sustainable regenerative agriculture practices.
Method
Free advice via the website and advice line, free One to Many events booked via the website, subsidised One to One services applied for via the website.
Key dates
Ongoing
Eligibility
- Open to all in the agricultural sector
- You must hold a BRN for the One-to-One service advice
- Available Scotland wide
Requirements
- You must adhere to grant conditions including Fair Work First
Baseline payment information:
Budget circa £6.5M
No. of recipients 2016-2024: 7M website views, 1.1M website downloads, 45K attended events, 12K advice line enquiries, >5K One to One FAS service recipients
Service providers deliver monthly and annual reports and attend bi-monthly meetings with officials to report on milestones, KPI metrics, plans, user feedback, and resolution of issues
Contact
Email: CAP.SRDP.Policy@gov.scot