Scotland Insight 2022 PRINT 15.3.22 - Flipbook - Page 15
BASIC PAYMENT & AECS UPDATE 2022
BPS
We are still waiting for an update as to what the Scottish
Government’s plan will be post 2024 regarding the
Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and other rural support.
We do know that this year’s BPS payment will be the
same as in 2021.
The application deadline for the Single Application Form
(SAF) is 15th May 2022 and this must be done online.
As with last year there are no crop diversification (three
crop rule) requirements. The permanent grassland rules
remain and farmers must keep a record of inorganic
nitrogen or lime applications to permanent pasture.
Farmers who have more than 15 hectares of arable land
may still be required to meet the 5% Ecological Focus
Area (EFA) requirements. The organic exemption is still
in place, as is the 75% exemptions if 75% of your arable
land is in temporary grass, herbaceous forage, fallow
or leguminous crop; or if 75% of your total land is in
temporary grass, permanent grassland or herbaceous
forage you are exempt from EFA.
New updated greening guidance released for 2022
details where the EFA options can be placed and how to
record these when submitting your SAF.
The EFA options and their individual weighting for EFA
is as follows:
EFA OPTIONS
WEIGHTING
Fallow land
1ha =1ha for EFA
Margins
1ha = 1.5ha for EFA
Catch crops or green
cover crops
1ha = 0.3ha for EFA
Nitrogen fixing crops
1ha = 1ha for EFA
Hedges
Single side 1m = 5m Sq
for EFA
Double side 1m = 10m
Sq for EFA
Agro-forestry
1ha = 1ha for EFA
New cross compliance guidance has also been issued,
which all BPS claimants are required to meet.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN
UPDATE AS TO WHAT THE SCOTTISH
GOVERNMENT’S PLAN WILL BE POST
2024 REGARDING THE BASIC PAYMENT
SCHEME (BPS) AND OTHER RURAL
SUPPORT.
AECS
The new Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)
round opened on 24th January 2022 and it is very
welcome news that this round will have a full suite of
options, rather than the very restricted ones available
last year.
In summary:
• The main scheme will close on the 29th April 2022.
• The closing date for collaborative projects is 31st
May 2022, which is made up of 5 or more applicants.
• Stand alone slurry applications for slurry storage
closes on 24th June.
• Applications for improving public access has a
separate application window of 28th February 29th
April 2022.
• Farmers will be required to carry out a full Farm
Environment Assessment across the entire holding,
this includes land that will not have any AECS
options on it.
• New templates have been developed for the required
management plans which most applications will be
required to complete.
There is a significant amount of work involved
in producing the environmental assessment and
management plans and therefore it is advisable to start
the application process as early as possible.
To discuss BPS, AECS, or any other schemes that may be
available to you, contact the team on 01387402 277.
15