NFU Scotland has used its traditional media briefing on the opening day of the Royal Highland Show to map out its next lobbying priorities following the passing of the landmark Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill by the Scottish Parliament earlier this week.
Over the course of the Royal Highland Show, the four-day showcase for Scottish food and farming, the Union expects to meet many Scottish MSPs and industry stakeholders as the debate around future agricultural policy enters the next phase.
The Union has stated that, in simple terms, the Bill provides the critical framework legislation and powers to enable farmers and crofters play their unique role in high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, nature restoration, and sustaining rural communities.
However, it is the secondary legislation that will lead to the further development and implementation of the Scottish Government’s planned four-tiered support framework, due to be implemented from 2026.
Speaking at the Highland Show, NFU Scotland’s Director of Policy Jonnie Hall said: “A profitable, sustainable agricultural industry is key to Scotland’s ambitions and having the powers to deliver the right support is crucial.
“Powers are one thing; it is how those powers are used that matters most. The Scottish Government has said on numerous occasions that it wants to avoid a ‘cliff edge’ for Scotland’s farmers and crofters.
“Getting the next phase right is critical to delivering that ambition. The industry agrees to change but not chaos; transition not turmoil. For that to happen, we need today’s existing schemes to morph into the four-tiered structure proposed by the Scottish Government.
“Putting it bluntly, we want the new Tiers 1 and 2 to operate in a very similar way as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening does today.”
In detail, NFU Scotland wants to see Tier 1 effectively replace the existing BPS from 2026. In addition, Tier 2 Enhanced support should be area-based, just like Tier 1 Base support will be, but with a changed set of ‘conditions’ attached that would go over and above current cross-compliance rules.
On timetable, NFU Scotland is anticipating:
- 2025 - Changes to existing schemes (new cross-compliance for peatlands and wetlands, Whole Farm Plans for BPS, and new conditions for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme rolling.
- 2026 – Expect BPS and Greening to be replaced by new Tier 1 and Tier 2 direct support payments with similar delivery mechanism as a transition to at least 2028.
- 2027 or later – Expect a replacement for the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme to morph into the new structure. NFU Scotland will argue for this to be an element of Tier 1.
- 2027 – Expect other current Pillar 2 schemes (such Agri Environment and Climate Scheme; Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund; Food Processing, marketing and Cooperation Fund etc.) to morph into Tier 3.
Mr Hall adds: “The relevance of the newly agreed Bill is that it is critical in enabling all elements of the transition to happen. That is exactly why we lobbied for and got the scope and flexibility we now have within the Bill to meet this timetable and more.”
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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006