Farmers, Crofters and Land Managers

Support services for farmers and crofters

There are a range of support services and resources available to farmers, crofters and land managers. Theses include:                                                    

Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) helps farmers and crofters to access the latest information and resources to increase profitability and sustainability through the following services. Part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP), it is funded by the European Union and Scottish Government.

Advice facility

This dedicated advice service by telephone 0300 323 0161 or email advice@fas.scot signposts farmers and crofters to information and guidance on cross compliance, water framework directive, climate change, greening and other matters relating to sustainable land management.

One-to-one support

Providing financial support for:

• Integrated Land Management Plans (ILMP)
• Mentoring for New Entrants
• Carbon Audits

Events and publications

A full programme of events including workshops, network farm meetings, conferences and training courses are delivered across Scotland.

The FAS website also has a wide range of publications including the online SAC Farm Management Handbook, FAS newsletters, Agri-Business News, guidelines and information notes in an easy-to-find library of resources and information.

Contact

• Telephone: 0300 323 0161
• Email: advice@fas.scot
• Website: www.fas.scot/
• X/Twitter: @FASScot
• Facebook: FASScot

The Croft and Small Farm Advisory Service provides discounted subscription and consultancy services for crofters and small farming businesses (under 30 Ha) across Scotland. This service ensures that no matter the scale of your enterprise or its location, it can provide the support you need.

The Crofting Commission regulates and promotes the interests of crofting in Scotland to secure the future of crofting.

It is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which operates on a day-to-day basis independently of the government, but for which Scottish Ministers are ultimately responsible.  The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 created the Crofting Commission, which came into being on 1 April 2012, taking over from the Crofters Commission.

Scottish Agritourism

Scottish Agritourism is the official body for agritourism in Scotland, providing leadership and a strong voice to represent and grow the sector.

They are a close-knit network of quality agritourism and rural businesses spread across all parts of rural and island Scotland who offer locals and visitors alike high quality and memorable experiences.

Throughout the year they host events, bringing their members together for a chance to discuss the big issues, new innovations, and opportunities to grow Scottish Agritourism.

In recent years Scottish Rural Network have provided have provided funding support to Scottish Agritourism to facilitate a cohort of new entrants into the Agritourism sector.

Scottish Agritourism were the driving force in winning the bid to host the World Agritourism conference in Scotland in 2026.

You can find their website here

Health and Wellbeing resources for farmers and crofters

National Rural Mental Health Forum – The National Rural Mental Health Forum is a strong dedicated network of over 225 organisations from third, private and public sectors, with an outreach of over 500,000 people in rural Scotland

The Forum features as an action point of the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Strategy (2017 – 2027) and is named in their Suicide Action Plan, Every Life Matters. You can find their website here

Farmstrong Scotland is an initiative to help farmers, crofters, land managers and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming and crofting by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business.

It is a peer-to-peer led programme, driven by scientific information and real-life stories, so together farmers, crofters and land managers can share, learn and support their wellbeing.

Please note that Farmstrong Scotland staff are not mental health practioners.

RSABI – provides practical, emotional and financial support to all people involved in the Scottish agricultural industry. The service is available to those previously and currently involved in farming, crofting and occupations related to agriculture in Scotland. This is a comprehensive service to help people to move forward when they are struggling.  You can find their website here

Farm Safety Foundation (often referred to as Yellow Wellies) – While UK farmers are among the best in the world, farming remains one of our country’s most hazardous industries; accounting for 1% of workers but 18% of all worker fatalities.

Farm Safety Foundation is an independent charity that was established to help young farmers challenge their behaviours and change their attitude to farm safety. The ultimate aim of the Foundation is to have zero avoidable deaths on our farms. To achieve this, the Foundation works closely with partners in the industry to engage, educate and communicate strong and relatable farm safety messages.

You can find their website here

Schemes

Depending on your circumstance, business or location, there may be several funding options available to you. Use the table below to check the high-level eligibility for each scheme.                                                       

You can find the latest scheme information at Rural Payments and Services 

Policy developments for Farmers, Crofters and Land Managers

With EU exit causing a huge change to how agriculture is supported in Scotland, the Scottish Government in consultation with stakeholders has introduced the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 and the Agriculture Reform Programme (ARP). 

Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024

The new Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 will cover a wide range of issues concerning not just rural and island communities but the whole of Scotland. Measures proposed will support how we address climate change and increased biodiversity. It will also cover Rural Development, which was previously championed by LEADER funding.  

A public consultation was undertaken including a number of face to face workshops across rural and island Scotland and additional online thematic specific events (details here) to inform development of the Bill.

Agriculture Reform Programme

The Scottish Government have set out an ambition of making Scotland a leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture and have set five key outcomes:

• High Quality Food Production
• Thriving Agricultural Businesses
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
• Nature Restoration
• Support for a Just Transition

Agricultural Reform Route Map – To help stakeholders Scottish Government has published a route map for framers and crofters that sets out when they can expect key decisions, guidance, information, and framework implementation to help them plan for the future. You can find and download the routemap here

Agricultural Reform List of Measures – To deliver the ambitions set out in the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture, published in March 2022, Scotland will have a support framework that delivers high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature restoration.

A supporting document for farmers and crofters, intended to show the measures currently being appraised by Scottish Government. This list of measures has been built on academic research and recommendations of the Farmer Led Climate Change Groups and can be found here

Preparing for Sustainable Farming full guidance – Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) focuses on incentives to farmers and crofters to help them understand their Carbon emissions and sequestration, identifying recommendations that can lower these emissions and increase efficiencies.  

There are three options currently being funded in the first phase of Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) that Scottish farmers, crofters, and agricultural contractors can claim funding for.

They are:

• Carbon Audits
• Soil Sampling and Analysis
• Animal Health and Welfare Interventions

You can view full scheme guidance and make your carbon audit or soil analysis claims here

The full PSF guidance document is available here

Rural Support Plan

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 requires Scottish Ministers to publish a five-year Rural Support Plan. The plan will build upon for the Vision for Scottish Agriculture and the Agricultural Reform Route Map and outline the phased transition from legacy EU CAP schemes to the new four-tier framework.

The 2024 Act sets out the requirements for the plan, including for engagement. Meeting these requirements is integral to the operation of the Agricultural Reform Programme, including through the co-development of future support with rural partners and in the developing secondary legislation that will introduce changes.

The Rural Support Plan will set out how support will deliver to the 2024 Act objectives and wider Scottish Government priorities, including what is set out under section 2(3). The Rural Support Plan will collate all of this information into a single strategic and coherent package, provide programme level input and ensure that the totality of measures is considered.

Once the 2024 Act is commenced, the initial plan is intended to be drafted through 2025 and laid in Winter 2025, to reflect the published Route Map. The 2024 Act requires that the plan is laid before the Scottish Parliament, and published. The development of this plan is only possible through the extensive and on-going engagement and co-development taking place through the Agriculture Reform Programme.