Eligibility

Date published: 10 October, 2019

For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.

The scheme is open to farmers, groups of farmers and other land managers with land in Scotland who are registered with us and have a Business Reference Number (BRN).

You can find out how to register here

You must be able to demonstrate that you are able, and have the legal right, to carry out the projects to be funded on the land included in your application for the length of the contract and any associated monitoring period.

Funding under this scheme cannot be used to support works that you are required to complete as part of a statutory or legislative obligation, you cannot include any options or items in your application that you have a duty to complete or which you have already started work on (including the purchase of any associated items or equipment) before being notified that the application has been successful and a confirmatory authority to start work letter has been issued to you.

Additionally, funding must not be used where the work proposed has already, partly or fully, secured funding from another source.

Not all the categories of applicants referred to will be eligible to apply for all options or activities under the scheme. For example, applications for the Organic Conversion and Organic Maintenance options are only open to farmers and crofters.

Separate eligibility requirements will also apply to applications for the Improving Public Access option. (Note: The Improving Public Access option will not be reopening for new applications in 2019 following a record number of high quality applications in 2018).

You should therefore refer to the specific eligibility requirements found in the individual management options and capital item sections of the guidance.

Check options and items

The questions case officers are to answer in 2019, to check the applicant’s eligibility to apply to the scheme, is provided here.

Section Change
IntroductionNew application check list for 2019
IntroductionNew application check list for 2018 and info on double funding and option incompatibility
IntroductionContent changed to show the case officer questions are relevant to 2016 rather than 2017

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