Preparing for sustainable farming

Farmers, crofters and land managers now have access to the new guidance on financial support for activity that will improve awareness of their climate performance.

The first phase of Track 1 of the National Test Programme (NTP): Preparing for Sustainable Farming, aims to help them to prepare the farms to meet the conditions of future agriculture policy and support.

The guidance includes information on how to prepare and make a claim towards the cost of carbon audits and soil analysis with links to supporting information.

Through Track 1, suckler beef producers will also receive access to YourHerdStats, a new online tool within the ScotEID system that will securely present herd management information and highlight opportunities for further improvement. This will be delivered through the NTP which was announced in October 2021 and is supported by up to £51 million over the next three years. Further detail on Track 2 of the Programme will be issued in the coming months.

Scottish farmers, crofters and agricultural contractors (based in Scotland), can claim for this grant if they:

• are registered for funding with Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Division (SGRPID)
• have a Rural Payments and Services (RPS) username and password

Claim must be made online via a new online portal which will be accessed from the Preparing for Sustainable Farming guidance page on Rural Payments and Services website. The ability to claim for a completed Carbon Audit will be delivered May to early June with the functionality to claim Soil Analysis thereafter.

For more information on the Programme, please visit the Scottish Government Website or the Rural Payments and Services for full guidance.