BPS applications and PSF funding for 2025

The Scottish Government has recently confirmed that the Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) funding will be continued for 2025, enabling claimants to take advantage of funds towards the new Whole Farm Plan conditionality being introduced this year.  Having been warned for many months that all funding would cease after 31 Dec 2024, this is a welcome announcement.

For reference, BPS payments will remain unchanged for 2025, however, current guidance suggests at least 50% of payments will be reliant on meeting conditionality rules from 2026.  There will be no financial penalties for non-compliance to Whole Farm Plan rules for 2025; nevertheless, we encourage claimants to take advantage of the PSF funding this year to meet compliance at a greatly subsidised rate whilst securing their payments for the next 5 years.

The introduction of a Whole Farm Plan requires farmers and crofters to complete at least two baseline activities from the list of options below. These baseline activities must be completed prior to the 15th May Single Application Form deadline. As the Whole Farm Plan develops, all relevant activities must be met by 2028, if not sooner.

The below activities are designed to highlight claimants’ inefficiencies within their business and, therefore, areas for improvement whilst contributing to climate / biodiversity / emissions targets.

In addition to the above, two further conditions are being introduced from 2025:

• Changes to Cross Compliance measure ‘GAEC 6 – Maintenance of soil organic matter’ prohibiting a range of activities being carried out on Peatlands and Wetlands, including a ban on ploughing or cultivation of such sites, which includes new drainage or maintaining existing drains if the works cause these sites to dry out.

• Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) new stipulation that calves will only be eligible if their dam has a calving interval threshold of 410 days or less or if it’s the first registered birth from the dam. All animals claimed from the 2025 scheme year onwards will be subject to the above regardless of their year of birth.

We encourage clients to get in touch before the claim window opens on the 1^st March 2025 to guarantee the necessary baseline activities are completed ahead of the submission deadline on the 15^th of May.

Should you wish assistance with any aspect of meeting this conditionality, or have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Jenni Douglas – jenni.douglas@fbrseed.com.