BPS Whole Farm Plan Conditionality 2025

With financial assistance being removed from 31 December 2024 to help claimants meet their minimum BPS 2025 conditionality if you haven’t already, we urge you to act now to maximise funding opportunities before further conditions are enforced.

As you will be aware, the Whole Farm Plan is being introduced to all Scottish claimants from 2025 to activate their BPS payment.

Recent guidance changes note there will be no financial penalty if applicants have not met Conditionality rules for 2025, instead being issued with a stern warning letter. It is worth stressing, however, that as recently as June of this year, guidance detailed that 50% of the 2025 payment would be withheld for non-compliance.  With budget cuts etc, there is a fear that they might go back on this, although less likely to happen.

Regardless, the number of actions required to meet conditionality will likely increase annually, with only two of the below actions required for 2025, and all that are relevant to your business to be met by 2028 – if not sooner.

We therefore urge claimants to act now if they wish to apply for grant funding towards soil analysis and animal welfare plans before they expire in two months’ time.

For 2025, applicants will simply need to tick which options they have undertaken on their SAF and only provide evidence if inspected.  It is easy, therefore, to say “Let’s hold off,” but we are advising you to use grants to make these additional conditions more affordable.

For full guidance on the BPS Whole Farm Plan Conditionality 2025 and the individual actions, click here.

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.