Scottish Government Publishes Rural Support Plan (2026-2031)

The Scottish Government has now published their framework for agricultural support for the next five years (2026-2031), known as the Rural Support Plan, offering a ‘period of certainty, investment and preparation’ to 2030.

A Four-Tier Structure of Support

The Rural Support Plan sets out a four-tier framework for delivering support to farmers and crofters through the provision of conditional payments. The four-tiers – Base, Enhanced, Elective and Complementary – were first published as part of the Agriculture Bill Consultation in August 2022, and are categorised into direct and indirect payments.

The current schemes available are to continue and will be refined over time. However, they will now be structured within the four-tier framework with differing levels of conditionality.

Direct Payments
Tier 1: Base
This tier offers direct payment support to active farming claimants and will include Basic Payment Scheme, LFASS, SSBSS, SUSSS and Fruit & Veg aid scheme within its budget, and evolve gradually. Businesses must meet “essential standards”, such as cross-compliance and completing a Whole Farm Plan, to qualify.

Tier 2: Enhanced
Tier 2 builds on tier 1 and is for farmers and crofters who exceed basic requirements, supporting those who adopt practices that benefit climate and nature. These measures aim to integrate with current systems, improving sustainability and maintaining productivity – Enhanced Greening Budget.

Indirect Payments
Tier 3: Elective
The elective tier aims to encourage activities that help create or preserve habitats and improve business sustainability, with a focus on climate change and nature restoration. These measures might include protecting habitats and species, agro-forestry, organic farming, innovation, and supply chain assistance. Tier 3 will initially be implemented through schemes like AECS, Forestry Grant Scheme and Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS)

Tier 4: Complementary
The final tier focuses on skills, knowledge, and community development, offering training, management support, and encouragement for community-led initiatives.

Allocation of Funding

The Rural Support Plan provides over £711 million in support, both within and outwith the tiers. It sets out an illustrative budget for the allocation of support for the next five-years, with the level of funding remaining similar to existing support albeit allocated slightly differently. Although there was hope of an increase in funding, the illustrative budget shows that funding will flatline at present figures, however, it does offer some certainty and a level of stability compared with our neighbouring nations (England and Wales)..

The current funding available through legacy CAP support, the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and other existing support has been mapped into the new four-tier framework, with the budget split between the support schemes headings we know today:

Progression of the Agricultural Reform Route Map

2026

• Enhanced Greening requirements have been introduced, with farmers and crofters with more than 15ha of arable land required to put 5% into Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) and changes to options available to those undertaking Greening.
• Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme calving interval restrictions put in place with calves born outwith 410-day window no longer eligible for support.
• Introduction of Food & Drink Processing Support (£9M), Agritourism Investment Scheme (£1M), and small herd derogation to Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme.
• Completion of Scottish Rural Communities Policy Review.

2027 

• Enhanced Greening requirements will increase, with minimum EFA areas being increased to 7% of arable land.

2028

• All farm businesses will have completed their Whole Farm Plans.
• Introduction of a revised Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System, with the encouragement of collaboration.

2030 onwards

• Reform of support mechanisms within the four-tiers to more explicitly require the adoption of sustainable and regenerative practices.
• Budget Figures beyond 2030-31 are not illustrated however we can see in the illustration 70% is to be allocated to tiers 1&2 and 30% to tiers 3&4, therefore the illustrated budget shows a drop of £67M from tier 1 with £45M added to tier 3, and £22M added to Tier 4, showing the Government’s drive for claimants to offer to do more for their support payment.

For further information on the Scottish Government’s Rural Support Plan, click here.