support schemes and statutory records

We can advise on day to day items which may be required for various financial and business purposes

Our Services Include:

BASIC PAYMENT SCHEMES, SHEEP & BEEF SCHEMES

AGRI ENVIRONMENT
CLIMATE SCHEME

ORGANIC FARMING

NEW ENTRANTS

NVZ RECORDS &
RAMS MAPS

IACS - BASIC PAYMENT SCHEME (BPS), SHEEP & BEEF SCHEMES

Completion of the annual Single Application Form (SAF) is crucial to access the:

• Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and associated greening payments
• Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS)
• Scottish Sucker Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS)
• Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS)
• Agri Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) management payments

All the team are fully conversant with current CAP schemes and keep up to date with changes in order to provide a comprehensive and efficient service to our clients.
We complete and lodge many annual SAFs, EFA maps, and Fertiliser and Lime Plans, all submitted via the Rural Payments and Services web portal, thereby benefitting from the system’s validation checks. We also prepare a spreadsheet copy which allows for double checking, and forward planning of the following year’s greening requirements.
Our bespoke services also include GPS field measurement, advice on cross-compliance and help with any appeals.

agri environment climate scheme

The Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) has funded the competitive Agri Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) since 2015 and has been the main method of support for rural businesses looking to undertake agri-environment management works and create and manage woodland and forestry. We have had considerable success with web-based applications to AECS whilst acting for clients throughout Scotland. We await confirmation that the Scottish Government will commit funds to the scheme post-2020.

The maintenance and improvement of the condition of designated sites such as SSSIs and SACs was important in the scoring process, and we have prepared management plans for upland estates (collaborative where necessary) for moorland, deer, predator control and bracken management. We can also prepare small-scale woodland proposals and will sub-contract in specialist forestry advisers to prepare larger schemes.

organic farming

Until 2019 any new support for organic farming had to be applied for under AECS. Funding was available for organic conversion and organic maintenance, with support payments comprising annual management payments for five years. Like all AECS work we await confirmation that the Scottish Government will commit funds to the organic conversion post-2020.

We are also involved in day to day organic farm management where we deal with ongoing record keeping, marketing of produce etc. Please contact James to discuss funding applications or general organic farming advice.

new entrants

The firm has assisted several new entrants into the industry in recent years through:

• Preparation of New Entrant grant applications
• Preparation of farm rental tenders
• Preparation of cashflows and business plans to assist with funding
• Advice on tenancy matters, business structures and lease options
• Ongoing consultancy support

With New Entrant fund cash having been fully allocated, we await confirmation that the Scottish Government will commit further funds post-2020.

nvz records & rams maps

Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) legislation places considerable management restriction and record keeping burden on farmers lying within these zones. The firm has developed its own NVZ recording programme, which is used for both our retained management and consultancy clients to provide easy to read fertiliser records, fertiliser plans and Risk Assessment for Manures and Slurry maps which meet SGRPID Cross Compliance requirements – remember these are required to secure your Basic Payments and are asked for at inspection!