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
Basic Payment Scheme
Basic Payment Scheme - RP&S guidance
Description
Entry-level direct payments to assist farming businesses
Purpose
Scottish Government is committed to a thriving rural Scotland and recognises many farms are not profitable without support, jeopardising food production, animal welfare, thriving rural communities and population retention. BPS provides direct support to farmers, facilitating business viability and their contribution to local communities and the rural economy. However, in return for support, we are asking farmers to do more for climate and nature in line with our ambition to be a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. The new Whole Farm Plan audit and plan requirements help farmers assess their environmental efficiency and impact and identify ways to improve whilst reducing costs
Contribution to Strategic Outcomes
High Quality Food Production
- BPS provides direct support for farms and crofts, enabling Scotland to produce high quality food
- Cross Compliance conditions regulate land, plant and animal health and welfare facilitating high quality output
Enabling Thriving Rural Communities
- BPS provides direct support for farmers and crofters
- Supports farm and croft viability
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Cross Compliance includes environmental and climate conditions with new requirements in 2025 introducing protections for peatlands and wetlands
- Whole Farm Plan requirements including carbon audits provide opportunities to improve and raise awareness of agricultural activities’ climate impact
Nature Restoration
- Cross Compliance includes environmental and climate conditions with new requirements in 2025 introducing protections for peatlands and wetlands
- Whole Farm Plan requirements for biodiversity, soil and integrated pest management audits improve and raise awareness of agricultural activities’ environmental impact
Support for a Just Transition
- BPS provides direct support for farms and crofts which form a key part of rural communities and the rural economy
- Whole Farm Plan audits provide farmers and crofters with key data to inform decision making and improvements to their agricultural activities
Method
Application via Single Application Form (SAF)
Key dates
Annual, application window 14/15 March to 15 May, payment window September onwards
Eligibility
- You must be an eligible business
- You must be 16+
- You must declare at least 3 hectares of eligible land each year
- You must be actively farming the land claimed against on 15th May
- You must have been allocated payment entitlements
- You must match each payment entitlement with an equivalent eligible hectare
- Available Scotland wide
Requirements
- You must meet Cross Compliance conditions on all land declared
- You must meet Whole Farm Plan requirements
- You will be subject to inspections
Baseline payment information
Budget £282M
No. of recipients circa 17,300
Contact
Email: CAP.SRDP.Policy@gov.scot