Updates to guidance
December 2017
Transfer of entitlements - 22 December, 2017
We've updated the below guidance.
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 22 December, 2017
We've updated the below pages with some additions to the guidance.
Managing scrub of conservation value
Supporting guidance for managing scrub of conservation value
Capital items and management options homepage
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 20 December, 2017
We've updated the below page with some minor text amendments.
Forestry Grant Scheme - 20 December, 2017
We've updated the below page with a new list of approved agents.
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 16 December, 2017
We've updated the below page with a minor amendment.
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 15 December, 2017
We've updated the following pages with various text changes, as well as new versions of the muirburn plan template and links to the Muirburn Code
Supporting guidance for muirburn and heather cutting
Supporting guidance for moorland management
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 12 December, 2017
The application requirements for Habitat Mosaic Management have been updated:
The online application guidance in the 'How to apply' section has been updated:
We've updated the below pages with some additional guidance and have updated the Moorland Management and Grazing Plan
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 8 December, 2017
We've updated the below page to delete the note at section - what needs to be done
Supporting Guidance for Hard Standings for Troughs and Gateways
We've updated the below page with a variety of text changes
Diffuse pollution risk assessment and Diffuse pollution steading assessment
We've updated the below page with a variety of text changes
We've updated the below page with various text changes and some additional guidance.
Supporting guidance for Managing Steading Drainage and Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems
We've updated the below page with some further advice.
Supporting guidance for Livestock Tracks
We've updated the below page to provide some additional advice.
Supporting guidance for Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems - pond
We've updated the below page with some additional advice
Supporting guidance for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems - sediment traps and bunds
We've updated the below page with some additional advice
Supporting guidance for Sustainable urban Drainage Systems - wetlands
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 7 November, 2017
We've updated the below page to include information about exceptions to actual costs capital items to include information about scheduled monuments.
We've updated the below page with with some additional advice.
Supporting guidance for Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems - swales
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 6 November, 2017
We've updated the attached guidance to the Designations guidance.
November 2017
AECS - 23 November, 2017
We've updated the Grazing Management Plan template for 2018 on the following pages -
Species rich grassland management
Management of buffer areas for fens and lowland bogs
Beef Efficiency Scheme - 7 November, 2017
Update to key deadlines section and inclusion of blood sampling of sires section. Also Annex B updated with beach and penalty details.
Cross Compliance - 3 November, 2017
We've added some clarification on 2016 breach figures
Cross compliance inspection statistics
AECS - 3 November, 2017
We've updated our guidance on Double Funding and Option Incompatibility
Double Funding and Option Incompatibility
AECS - 2 November, 2017
We've updated the supporting guidance for Cropped Machair
We've updated the supporting guidance for Away Wintering Sheep
We've updated the supporting guidance for Summer Hill Grazing of Cattle
We've updated the supporting guidance for Stock Disposal
October 2017
AECS - 17 October, 2017
We've updated the Agri-environment measures on the Double Funding and Option Incompatibility page
SUSSS - 6 October, 2017
The claim period deadline has been extended to November 2017.
September 2017
AECS - 15 September, 2017
We've added clarification to the requirements section of Wetland Creation - Pipe sluices
Wetland Creation - Pipe sluices
Cross Compliance Control Report Forms - 4 September, 2017
We've uploaded all 2017 Control Report Forms.
August 2017
Cross Compliance Verifiable Standards - 24 August, 2017
We've uploaded the updated August 2017 verifiable standards document
Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund - 15 August, 2017
We've updated the PAC Approved Projects document
July 2017
Forestry Grant Scheme - 27 July, 2017
We've updated the guidance for the Rhododendon control in the Woodland Improvement Grants section
Cross Compliance inspection statistics - 19 July 2017
We've added the statistics for 2016 for the cross compliance inspection statistics
Croft House Grant - 14 July 2017
We've updated the full scheme guidance for the croft house grant scheme
Forestry Grant Scheme - 12 July 2017
We've updated the budget categories and threshold document
June 2017
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme - 30 June 2017
We've updated the guidance regarding application submission and the start work letter.
Forestry Grant Scheme - 26 June 2017
We've added an example of an A3 publicity poster
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme - 16 June 2017
We've updated the AECS Management Diary non compliance matrix
Forestry Grant Scheme - 14 June 2017
We've added a new section regarding stocking densities
Woodland Creation - Broadleaves
Crofting Agricultural Grants Scheme - 8 June 2017
We've updated the guidance on the maximum limit on expenditure eligible for grant
Small Farm and New Entrant Capital Grant Scheme - 8 June 2017
We've updated the guidance on the maximum limit on expenditure eligible for grant
Basic Payment Scheme - 8 June 2017
We've updated our guidance on assessing your land eligibility
Assessing your land eligibility
Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund - 6 June 2017
We've updated the approved projects document
Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund full guidance
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme - 1 June 2017
We've added a slurry storage scoring criteria
We've added a slurry storage catchment tool
Basic Payment Scheme - 1 June 2017
We've updated the list of animals which make up one livestock unit
May 2017
Forestry Grant Scheme - 25 May 2017
We've updated the Woodland Creation page to implement the recommendations of the Mackinnon review.
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme - 19 May 2017
We've updated the compatibility checker spreadsheet
Double funding and option incompatibility
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme - 11 May 2017
We've updated our guidance on 'Which species should I sow?'
Supporting guidance for Creation of Species-rich Grassland
We've updated our guidance on 'Which species should I sow?'
Supporting guidance for Restoration of Species-rich Grassland
Forestry Grant Scheme - 5 May 2017
We've updated our guidance on financial eligibility on our how to apply page.
Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme - 5 May 2017
We've updated our guidance on replacement fencing in appendix A.
April 2017
Beef Efficiency Scheme - 25 April 2017
We've updated the FAQs for this scheme.
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme - 24 April 2017
We've replaced the Grazing Management Plan template with an updated version.
March 2017
Forestry Grant Scheme - 29 March 2017
We've added a request form and timescales to Occupancy of Land.
Forestry Grant Scheme - 24 March 2017
We've added more references to the UK Forestry Standard on a number of our FGS pages.
Beef Efficiency Scheme - 15 March 2017
We've updated the Frequently Asked Questions document
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme - 3 March, 2017
We've added information on slurry storage to the scoring criteria.
We've update the Organic Viability Proposal (OVP) document.
Organic Viability Proposal (OVP) document.
We've added information to the introduction of the 'How to apply' section on slurry storage
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme - 1 March, 2017
We've updated some of the capital item guidance, found within the “Table of standard costs (with outline specification)” of the Improving Public Access option, to clarify the requirement regarding taking and retaining photographic evidence.
Forestry Grant Scheme - 1 March, 2017
We've updated the Woodland Creation guidance to account for new guidance for Deer Fence - high cost. We've also created a separate page for Vegetatively propagated genetically-improved Sitka spruce. This has meant updates to the Conifer page and Bracken control.
February 2017
Forestry Grant Scheme - 24 February
We've updated the list of approved agents in the tree health other eligibility criteria section
We've updated the self-closing gate for non-vehicular access
self-closing gate for non-vehicular access
Forestry Grant Scheme - 23 February, 2017
We've updated the scoring criteria and clearing guidance
Basic Payment Scheme - Active farming - 22 February 2017
We've updated the guidance for Active farming to include guidance on the "Negative List".
Active farming - undertaking agricultural activity and the "Negative List"
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 18 February, 2017
We've updated the guidance for claims and payments to add in information regarding claims variation and to remove information regarding on-site administrative inspections for claims over £4,000.
We've updated the guidance for contract variations to provide more clarity on when a variation may be considered and how to contact us. We've also added to the list of acceptable variations.
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 16 February, 2017
We've updated the supporting guidance for vulnerable priority species to include an update recording template
guidance for Vulnerable priority species
Forestry Grant Scheme - 16 February, 2017
We've updated the guidance for Forestry Co-operation.
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 11 February, 2017
We've updated the guidance Rural Sustainable Drainage System - sediment traps and bunds, to change one of the associated capital items from RSDS - swales to RSDS - wetland
Rural Sustainable Drainage System - sediment traps and bunds
We've updated the guidance for Restoring (protecting) riverbanks to make a small text change in the inspections section
January 2017
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - throughout January 2017
We've been updating a number of different guidance pages throughout January. Details of each change is given on the guidance pages below.
Option / Capital item guidance
Cattle management of small units
Creation of species rich grassland
Managing steading drainage and rural sustainable drainage
Pond creation and restoration for wildlife
Replacement or planting of individual trees with ancient wood pasture
Restoration of species rich grassland
Restoring (protecting ) river banks
Rural sustainable drainage systems - Ponds
Rural sustainable drainage systems – Sediment Traps and Bunds
Rural sustainable drainage systems - Swales
Rural sustainable drainage systems - Wetland
Stubbles followed by green manure in an arable rotation
Water - use Efficiency - Irrigation Lagoon
Supporting guidance
Organic farming: conversion and maintenance
Restoring (Protecting ) river banks
Rural Sustainable Drainage systems - pond
Rural Sustainable Drainage systems - Swales
Rural Sustainable Drainage systems – Sediment Traps and Bunds
Rural Sustainable Drainage systems - wetland Stock disposal
Water - use Efficiency - Irrigation Lagoon
Procedural guidance
Breaches and penalties ( including AEC Management Diary Non compliance matrix)
FEA (Including FEA table template and example)
Management Diaries (including Management Diary example
Management Option and capital items home page
Occupancy of land (including Landlord declaration form)
Forestry Grant Scheme - 26 January, 2017
We've updated the guidance for Woodland Improvement Grant, Sustainable Management of Forests and Occupancy of Land to clarify when crofters do and do not need to contact the Crofting Commission or seek their approval.
Capital Grants Technical Guidance - Technical supplements to operations 26 January, 2017
We've updated this guidance to advise you can now claim for CCTV to monitor livestock during lambing and calving.
Capital Grants Technical Guidance - Technical supplements to operations
AECS Scoring Criteria - 23 January 2017
Following feedback from stakeholders the AECS Scoring Criteria has been reviewed for the 2017 application round. The changes are to the following sections:
- Scale of Delivery - we will only carry forward the highest score between either in-bye, moorland or diffuse pollution risks from 2017
- National Priority Vulnerable Priority Species – additional points will be awarded if more than one vulnerable priority species is targeted
- Habitat Linkage – additional information has been provided on how the number of links are calculated and the points per category have been reduced
- Long Term Benefit – more detail has been provided on how these points are calculated
- Value for Money - Additional points have been awarded for applications under £20,000
- Collaborative Approach - more detail has been provided on how these points are calculated
Greening guidance - 20 January, 2017
Greening Guidance for 2017 has now been published. At the time of publication no scheme changes have been identified for this booklet for 2017. However, the European Commission is currently reviewing Greening as part of Commissioner Hogan's simplification agenda, which the Scottish Government will consider when confirmed.
If, following review, there are changes which impact on 2017, these will be notified as updates to this booklet in due course.
Basic Payment Scheme - 19 January, 2017
We've updated the Main features page and How to apply to clarify the guidance.
National Reserve - 19 January, 2017
We've updated the Sole trader, Partnership, Limited company and Evidence sections with text clarifications to make sure the guidance is consistent.
We've added some extra text regarding allocations in more than one region.
Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme - 19 January, 2017
This guidance has been updated with a clarification to the eligibility section to state that it is the claimed area for Basic Payment Scheme which is relevant to this scheme.
Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme
Disallowance and penalties - 13 January 2017
We've updated the business and community group payment information.
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 13 January 2017
We've updated the guidance for Alternative Watering to add another bullet point under requirements.
Agri-environment Climate Scheme - 9 January 2017
We've added a new page covering common application mistakes.
We’ve updated the supporting guidance for Retention of winter stubbles for wildlife and water quality to include information regarding the hectarage limit per holding.
Guidance for retention of winter stubbles for wildlife and water quality
We’ve updated the supporting guidance for species rich grassland management with more detail on grazing, completing a grazing management plan and indicating when bracken treatment will not be funded through AECS in terms of the management of scrub, weeds and bracken.
Guidance for species rich grassland management
We’ve updated the supporting guidance for Beetlebanks to include extra guidance on sowing grasses.
Supporting guidance for Beetlebanks
We’ve updated the supporting guidance for Bracken management to expand the guidance on cutting, aerial spraying and follow up treatment.
Supporting guidance for bracken management
We have updated the supporting guidance for management, restoration or creation of hedgerows to inform you that the creation of hedgerows is much more targeted and therefore available on less areas than the management or restoration of existing hedgerows.
Supporting guidance for Management, Restoration or Creation of Hedgerows
We’ve updated the guidance for Diffuse pollution risk assessment to change ‘can’ to ‘must’ concerning individually numbering points on the field map.
Diffuse pollution risk assessment
We’ve updated the 'what you need to apply' guidance with more information on how to refer to the checklist of requirements and to add endorsements to the checks required as part of the ‘further preparation’ for applying to the Scheme.
We’ve updated the checklist of requirements, located at point 6 (upload supporting documents), in the 'how to apply' guidance.
We’ve updated the guidance for water margins in grassland fields to add more information about seeking approval from SNH or RPID if you do not intend to graze or cut a water margin and to update the water margins summary table.
Water margins in grassland fields
We’ve updated the guidance for water margins in arable fields to add more information about seeking approval from SNH or RPID if you do not intend to graze or cut a water margin and to update the water margins summary table.
Water margins in arable fields
We’ve updated the supporting guidance for cutting of rush pasture to tighten up some of the language around what you should do including under the heading ‘Complementary options’.
We’ve also added in some further information regarding the 2017 payment rate and removed text relating to the use of glyphosate or MCPA.
Supporting guidance for cutting of rush pasture
We’ve updated this guidance to make some small text tweaks around what you should do and also add in further information regarding what land can be claimed with what options.
Supporting guidance for creation of wader scrapes
We’ve updated the guidance for ancient wood pasture to allow sheep to be used for grazing.
Guidance for ancient wood pasture
We’ve updated the guidance for forage brassica for farmland birds to change the inspections procedure slightly, advising that inspectors will check that a forage brassica crop has been sown for the chosen management.
Forage brassica crops for farmland birds
We’ve amended the guidance for creation of species-rich grassland to update when existing cover should be removed and when the species-rich grassland should be established.
Creation of species rich grassland
We’ve updated the guidance for retention of winter stubbles for wildlife and water quality to amend the payment rate.
Guidance for retention of winter stubbles for wildlife and water quality
We’ve updated the guidance for conservation management of small units to clarify what will be checked during an inspection.
Guidance for conservation management of small units
We’ve updated the guidance for cattle management on small units to clarify what will be checked during an inspection.
Cattle management on small units
We’ve updated the supporting guidance for restoration of species-rich grassland to include more information on when yellow rattle should be sown and further advice on establishing and managing the grassland.