From 2025 the Scottish Government will phase in a new requirement for all farms and crofts in receipt of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments to complete a Whole Farm Plan, to help identify ways to make farms and crofts more efficient, productive and profitable.
Whole Farm Plans allow the impact of a farm or croft to be measured, with a particular focus on:
Emissions associated with a business
Environmental condition of farms and crofts
Health and welfare of livestock
Use of fertilisers and pesticides.
The table below shows which audits and plans are relevant to different types of farmers and crofters. From May next year, all farmers and crofters in receipt of the basic payment will have to complete two of these five audits:
Type of audit/plan
Who is it for?
Biodiversity audit
All farmers and crofters
Carbon audit
All farmers and crofters
Integrated pest management plan
Farmers and crofters that use pesticides and herbicides (For organic producers, SA 'Crop Management Plans' are considered equivalent by Scot Gov)
Soil analysis
Farmers and crofters that claim Region 1 land and apply artificial fertilisers and/or organic manures to it
Animal health and welfare plan
Farmers and crofters that keep livestock (For organic producers, SA 'Livestock Management Plans' are considered equivalent by Scot Gov)
The Soil Association recognises that a whole farm approach is a key factor in supporting a shift towards more sustainable farming – building resilience to economic and climate shocks while delivering public goods, reducing GHG emissions, increasing carbon sequestration and enhancing biodiversity.
