The Scottish Government – which is aiming to double its organic farmland – now requires farmers to create a whole farm plan for protecting nature and climate to qualify for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
Unlike England, Scotland is retaining the BPS system used in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, under which payments are made to farmers based on the amount of land being farmed.
But changes are being made in Scotland around eligibility for the scheme including a new requirement for a whole farm plan – which the Scottish Government has recognised is already a key part of organic farming.
To receive payments, farmers and crofters will need to submit information to government covering how their entire farm system will deliver in five areas – animal health and welfare, biodiversity, integrated pest management, carbon, and soil analysis.
All BPS applicants must complete at least two of these five audits by 15 May 2025, and all others relevant to their business by 2028.
Any farmer who is certified organic will automatically qualify for the animal health and welfare and integrated pest management areas, due to requirements in organic for farmers to deliver high animal welfare and use natural solutions over pesticides.
Soil Association Scotland Co-Director David McKay said, “Organic farmers have always taken a whole-farm approach to protecting the environment and we are delighted that the benefits they deliver are being recognised by Scottish Government. Farmers and crofters are under pressure to deliver for nature and climate, and organic is increasingly an obvious solution with UK demand for organic products rising and backing from government.
“The requirement for whole-farm planning is also great news for all farmers as the evidence clearly shows that this approach can help to deliver resilience and support food security. Being specialised can carry a lot of risk, especially in the face of climate change and extreme weather.
“If farmers can be supported to consider how they might create different enterprises while protecting natural habitats, that is a win-win solution for everyone. For example, they may be able to find a market to sell the crops they use to restore soil health, or bring in livestock to graze it. Taking a landscape view also means any farmer can look at using nature-based methods to protect against pest and disease, which can save them money in avoiding expensive artificial pesticides and fertilisers.
“But it is a big mindset change so we are pleased to be offering support services to help farmers pick up the skills they need in this transition.”
Case study: going organic
Dee Ward farms native breed sheep and cattle at Rottal Estate, an upland farm in Glen Clova, Angus, and he is currently converting the farm to organic.
Ward said, “Going organic matched up with our long-term plan to be sustainable, low input, low impact, and wildlife friendly in our farming operation. A key part of this is taking a whole-farm approach. We look at the operation holistically starting with the soil, and working up encouraging different grasses and plants, insects, wildlife. We are restoring peatland, planting native trees and hedges, planting riparian buffers and making other river improvements.
“This way we believe we create a holistic ecosystem that not only delivers high quality food but also eco system services, climate change resilience and natural flood management – and going organic just made sense while taking this approach, especially with the new government support.”
Whole-farm planning support available with the Soil Association
The change in policy follows a Soil Association report published earlier this year covering the business and environmental benefits of whole-farm planning. This includes case studies from farmers – both organic and conventional – who have benefited from changing to this approach.
The report recommended that government should use policy to incentivise a whole-farm approach, but it also warned that support and advice for farmers to adopt this mindset change would be vital.
To help farmers and crofters, Soil Association Scotland will therefore be running a series of webinars and on-farm events during 2025 and 2026, which will be accompanied by a range of videos, case studies, and practical resources.
Guidance with expert advice has already been published on the Soil Association’s website where farmers and crofters can also get in touch for more advice.
Image: Cattle at Rottal Estate which is in its second year of organic conversion.