A new flexible grants scheme offering farmers and crofters
capital investment will open next month, Rural Affairs Secretary
has announced.
The £14 million Future Farming Investment Scheme offers flexible
capital grants to support investments in efficiency, nature and
climate friendly farming. It will provide priority support
in a number of areas, including for new entrants, and young
farmers, small farms and tenants.
The Rural Affairs Secretary also confirmed that a three-year
programme of national LiDAR scanning is underway to provide a
detailed three dimensional baseline map of Scotland to help
better understand the landscape and plan for the future.
A new Code of Practice on Sustainable and Regenerative
Agriculture has also been published.
Speaking at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, Ms Gougeon
said:
“Scotland invests more than £600 million a year in agriculture
through reformed direct payments, Voluntary Coupled Support and
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme – all in stark contrast to
elsewhere in the UK.
“I am pleased to be able to confirm that, having worked with so
many partners in its development, the Future Farming Investment
Scheme will open on 14 July. The scheme will provide upfront
payments of up to £20,000 at up to 100% grant rate and give
people the freedom to choose the most appropriate capital
investment to improve their business.
“The Scottish Government recognises the importance of small
suckler cow herds in some of our most remote and fragile areas.
These cows deliver for biodiversity, landscapes, they help to
sustain people and deliver socio-economic benefits, so from the
2026 scheme, farms claiming for 10 calves or fewer will receive a
derogation from the calving-interval condition.
“By working together we have secured a flexible support policy
through the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act, ensuring the
industry continues to benefit from reformed direct support. We
are driving down emissions, improving productivity and supporting
the next generation.
“We do not have all the powers to protect the Scottish
agricultural industry, but where we do, we have shown that long
term policy made in Scotland for Scotland can serve this great
industry well.”
Background
The Code of Practice on
Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture (ruralpayments.org)
Future Farming Investment
Scheme (ruralpayments.org)
