Scottish Government

Animal Welfare

• Animal health and welfare programme

Support towards the cost of implementing a farm specific animal health and welfare programme with additional voluntary options of benchmarking, biosecurity, sampling and forage analysis available if required.

Cropping for biodiversity

• Introduction or retention of extensive cropping

*

Encouraging spring sowing of crops in the LFA to reduce nitrate losses and retain stubble over the winter months to provide feeding and breeding areas for seed eating birds.

• Spring cropping

*

Encouraging spring sowing of crops outwith the LFA to reduce nitrate losses and retain stubble over the winter months to provide feeding and breeding areas for seed eating birds.

• Biodiversity cropping on in-bye

Encouraging traditional crop rotations in the LFA to provide feeding and breeding areas for seed eating birds. An additional premium payment for additional activities which provide feed sources for birds.

• Retention of winter stubbles

Support for retaining stubbles over the winter to provide cover and feed for birds.

• Wild bird seed mixture/unharvested crops

Create patches of bird seed sites and cover through sowing a mixture of seed bearing crops and retaining the crop unharvested over the winter.

• Management of cropped machair

*

Support for traditional cropping of previously cultivated machair land, providing a feeding and breeding ground for birds and encourage a range of annual plants to grow and flower as the area reverts to grassland.

Field Boundaries

• Management of grass margins and beetlebanks in arable fields

*

Creation of grass strips around or across fields on which insects can overwinter and breed.

• Management of conservation headlands

*

Leaving headlands free of herbicides and insecticides to allow natural development of a varied flora within the headland, which will create favourable conditions for insects, small mammals and birds.

• Management of hedgerows

*

Enhancement of existing hedgerows through a controlled cutting regime for the benefit of invertebrates, small mammals and birds.

• Linear features - hedges

Management of existing hedgerows through controlled cutting and reinstatement as appropriate.

• Linear features - dykes

Maintenance of existing dykes in good condition to retain important landscape features.

Grassland management for plant interest

• Management of rush pasture

Creation of a mosaic of rush and open pasture to encourage greater plant diversity and improved habitats for birds.

Investment in holdings

• Insurance provision- natural disasters

*

Assistance with the cost of insuring against damage to land from natural disasters such as flash flooding, drought and hurricanes and the cost of returning the land to its pre-disaster condition.

• Modernisation through information technology

*

Provision of electronic management equipment including hardware and software to improve the performance of agricultural and forestry businesses. Includes precision farming equipment, electronic weigh crates and ear tag readers and forest planning equipment.

• Water and waste treatment provision

*

Improvements to farm water supply infrastructure and waste treatment facilities (excluding livestock manure/slurry) for land based businesses to improve their efficiency.

• Management of forest seed stocks

*

Support to encourage the production and use of genetically appropriate planting stocks through encouragement of the registration and management of seed stands.

• Access for sustainable forest management

*

Promoting sustainable forest management through creation of access to isolated woodland areas to enable thinning and continuous silviculture to take place.

• Quality assurance membership

Encouraging high quality production through encouraging membership of quality assurance schemes.

Landscape -built environment

• Protection and conservation of rural vernacular buildings

*

Support for developing local businesses (especially those involved in tourism and traditional crafts) by repairing and weatherproofing rural buildings which are in a poor state, especially to improve the safety of their structure and their contribution to the character of the landscape.

Management of wet areas

• Linear features - ditches

Support for managing ditches by sensitive clearing when required to enhance their value as a habitat.

Management of woodland and scrub

• Management of small woodlands

To increase the area of woodlands under active management to increase their value as part of the holding and the wider landscape.

• Management of scrub and tall herb communities

*

Support for enhancing and extending areas of natural scrub vegetation, to benefit the flora and fauna which live in a scrub habitat.

Moorland management

• Management of moorland grazing

Support for changes in management practices to benefit a wide range of habitats and species found on moorland.

• Summer cattle grazing

Support for maintaining or restoring the balance between heather and the coarser moorland grasses through cattle grazing.

• Management of muirburn

Support to identify and record sensitive areas not to be burnt; and in order to reduce the likelihood of wild fires, to record control and safety precautions used

Pollution control and management

• Nutrient management

Decrease diffuse pollution on in-bye improved ground through matching fertiliser applications to crop requirements.

• Buffer areas

Creation of a network of wildlife corridors, reductions in diffuse pollution and enhancement of habitats and features through creation of grass buffer strips around sites.

Public access provision

• Improving access

Improvement of existing access routes to improve the standard of paths and help the public enjoy access to Scotland's countryside.

Skills development

• Training

Support for increasing the skills present within agriculture and forestry, through contribution to the cost of training which improves occupational skills and knowledge.

Tourism and education

• Installation of tourist information and interpretation boards

*

Support for the installation of information and interpretation boards to raise public awareness of local land use, support local tourist attractions, educate the community on local wildlife and responsible access to the countryside.

• Farm and woodland visits

Support for increasing public awareness of land management through hosting educational experiences for children and young people and other members of the public.

• Talks by land managers

Support for increasing public awareness of land management through informative talks for children and young people and other members of the public.

Woodland creation

• Small scale woodland creation <1 hectare

*

Support for new woodland planting which is less than 1 hectare in size, providing benefits for habitats and species as well as helping to mitigate climate change and enhance the landscape - for example to screen buildings, and create and emphasise features in the landscape.

Investment in holdings

• Investment to aid restructuring

Provision or upgrading of buildings, infrastructure and information technology for restructuring agriculture or forestry

• Support for renewable energy

Installation of small scale renewable energy capacity for agricultural and forestry businesses

• Adaptation to legislative standards by young farmers

Adaptation of businesses by young farmers to existing demanding standards based on community legislation

• Improvements in the economic value of forests

Support for operations to improve the economic potential of forests, such as re-spacing and pruning.

• Cattle quality improvement on croft land

Support for preparing and implementing collaborative plans for improving the genetics of cattle on croft land - including support towards bringing in high quality bulls and an emphasis on monitoring improvements in cattle quality

Support for diversification within agriculture and forestry

• New or upgraded buildings and structures

Provision or upgrading of buildings and related structures for diversification within agriculture or forestry

• Alternative agricultural production

Restructuring of agricultural businesses into alternative systems e.g. buffalo farming

• New machinery and equipment for adding value

Provision of machinery and equipment for processes which will add value to agricultural and forestry products.

• Cooperation between producers and processors

Cooperation between primary producers, between primary producers and processors and/or third parties which improves the competitiveness of rural businesses.

• Market research to support restructuring

Feasibility studies and market research as part of projects involving diversification within agriculture and forestry.

• Provision of information technology

Provision of information technology equipment, software and support to assist with diversification and restructuring within agriculture and forestry.

• Provision and upgrading of infrastructure

Provision and upgrading of infrastructure related to access to farm and forest land, energy supplies and water management.

Support for diversification outwith agriculture and forestry

• New or upgraded buildings and structures

Provision or upgrading of buildings and related structures for diversification outwith agriculture or forestry

• Creation of micro enterprises

Support for the creation and development of micro-enterprises with a view to promoting entrepreneurship and the economic fabric of the rural economy.

• New and innovative uses of land

Support for the change of use of agricultural land as part of a diversification project.

• Market research to support diversification

Feasibility studies and market research as part of projects involving diversification outwith agriculture and forestry.

• Provision of information technology

Provision of information technology equipment, software and support to assist with diversification outwith agriculture and forestry.

• New or upgraded tourist accommodation

Development of new small scale tourism accommodation, conversion of redundant buildings for tourism and upgrading existing tourist accommodation.

• Tourist visitor facilities

Provision of tourist visitor facilities and small scale infrastructure.

• Support for renewable energy

Installation of small scale renewable energy capacity for rural communities and diversified businesses.

Provision of rural services and facilities

• Provision of rural services

Support for setting up of basic services, including cultural and leisure activities.

• Provision of leisure, recreation, sporting, catering and other community facilities

Provision of recreational and community infrastructure for the rural population

• Conversion of redundant rural buildings for rent

Conversion of redundant farm buildings for residential letting

• Local development strategy production

Production of collaborative local development strategies encompassing Axis 3 measures, including promotion, training events and implementation of the strategy by public/private partnerships (excluding LEADER groups)

Skills development

• Training

Vocational training for persons engaged in the agricultural, food and forestry sectors

• Training in countryside management

Support for training and other skills development to help land managers deliver Axis 2 outcomes most effectively

• Training for diversification outwith agriculture

Training for persons engaged in operations covered by Axis 3

Landscape - Built environment

• Make safe, restore and repair built features

Repairs to rural buildings (which are not SAMS) of traditional character for the area to keep them wind- and water-tight

• Management of Sites of archaeological or historic Interest

To improve the condition of features or areas of historical or archaeological interest.

• Retain and reinstate built features associated with boundaries

Maintain and rebuild locally distinctive built features that contribute to the landscape character such as dykes, gateposts, gate piers, mounting stands, mile markers and stone stiles

Maintaining landscape character

• View enhancement

Works to open up and retain key views from public roads, accessible historic features, access routes (core path networks) and destination points, including tree and scrub clearance

• Maintaining a mosaic of semi-natural habitats

To maintain a mosaic of traditional semi-natural habitats on farmland that contributes to landscape diversity of an area

• Creation of new landscape features

To create and manage new natural features in the landscape appropriate to the setting which have the potential to enhance public enjoyment, such as horse chestnuts for conkers, bramble and raspberry thickets, blackthorn and hazelnut copses.

• Tree protection and management in a designed landscape

Protect and replace individual trees, avenues and other small-scale woodland features which contribute to the historic character of a designed landscape

• Screening farm and forestry structures

Management works to integrate agricultural and forestry structures into the landscape - including planting trees and hedges, building walls, creating earth mounds and (in some cases) re-siting

Public access provision

• Creation and upgrading of paths

To improve the amount and quality of path and track provision to help people visit the countryside, and to assist with land management - including access for water-based recreation, and sensitive access to areas of high nature value

• Maintenance of existing paths and tracks for public access

To maintain existing paths and tracks that do or could meet a local demand for public access - including clearing vegetation and on-going upkeep of the path surface

• Managing land adjacent to settlements for community access

Manage fields close to the edges of settlement for both informal open space for use by communities, and for agricultural purposes

• Managing land for community events

Make land available for regular community events and activities - including preparing as a venue and restoring to pre-existing condition.

• Road noise and light reduction

Establish and manage a planted strip, hedge, wall, earth mound or combination of these to reduce the impacts of noise, water spray, headlight glare and visible traffic movement on the public who use access tracks on land bordering class A or busy B roads.

Education and tourism

• Information and awareness raising for visitors

To improve public understanding of the relationship between farming and forestry and the countryside - for example through the provision of on-site displays and interpretation, farm visits and exhibitions, open-days, guided walks, and interpretative trails

• Visitor management and monitoring

Visitor management, monitor visitor numbers and provide basic amenities - for example car parks, benches, picnic tables, facilitating safe access to viewpoints, toilets, dog exercise areas, litter collection/recycling facilities

Climate change

• Constructed farm wetlands

Support for the construction of farm wetlands to reduce risk of flooding.

• Sustainable flood management

Support to reduce grazing pressure to promote natural colonisation of tree cover in headwaters, re-establish meanders or create two-stage channels and increase floodplain roughness. The SEPA Second Generation Flood Map will be available to facilitate the consideration of sustainable flood management measures.

• Peat bog restoration

Restoration of peat bog to benefit biodiversity and help mitigate climate change.

Conservation of genetic resources

• Preservation of genetic diversity

Preservation and enhancement of genetic diversity of livestock and plant stock of rare breeds and species at risk

Control of problem species

• Mammal and bird control

Restricted to certain sites or areas - control of species such as mink and grey squirrels and only eligible in association with habitat management for particular species, for example otters, hen harriers or red squirrels.

• Control of invasive and or non-native species

Control of non-native and/or invasive plants and animals to support the protection of designated sites, BAP priority species and habitats - for example, control of bracken, giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and rhododendron.

• Deer management

Reduction and management of deer numbers on and around designated and other high priority sites considered to be at risk from adverse impacts by deer.

Cropping for biodiversity

• Introduction or retention of extensive cropping

Encouraging spring sowing of extensively-managed crops in the LFA to reduce nitrate losses and retain stubble over the winter months to provide feeding and breeding areas for seed eating birds.

• Spring cropping

Encouraging spring sowing of crops outwith the LFA to reduce nitrate losses and retain stubble over the winter months to provide feeding and breeding areas for seed-eating birds.

• Biodiversity cropping on in bye

Encouraging traditional crop rotations in the LFA to provide feeding and breeding areas for seed eating birds. An additional premium payment for additional activities which provide feed sources for birds.

• Wild bird seed mix/unharvested crop

Create patches of bird seed sites and cover through sowing a mixture of seed bearing crops and retaining the crop unharvested over the winter.

• Enhanced management of set-aside

Enhanced set aside option for farmland birds and arable weeds including sowing wild bird seed mixtures.

• Managing arable crops in strips

Support for sowing crops in strips - both along contours to prevent surface erosion, and to provide a more diverse habitat for wildlife.

Field Boundaries

• Management of extended hedgerows

Support for creation of hedges with adjacent undisturbed grass margins, enhancing this habitat to support a range of plants, invertebrates, birds and small mammals.

• Ditch management as a landscape feature

Reinforce and delineate field patterns through protection of existing trees and scrub vegetation in a ditch-side strip and encourage further regeneration of appropriate species

• Maintaining gorse hedges for landscape

To strengthen and delineate field pattern through management of field-edge gorse scrub and prevent encroachment into the field.

• Managing hedges in designed landscapes

To maintain and enhance formal hedges which are key features of the designed landscape and which contribute to the setting of individual features and significant elements

• Managing hedges as landscape features

To enhance the setting of settlement, built structures and farmsteads, by management of formal hedges

• Management of grass margin or beetlebanks in arable fields

Creation of grass strips around or across fields on which insects can overwinter and breed.

Grassland and heathland management for plant interest

• Management of species rich grassland

Support for encouraging the growth and spread of flowering plants and other species in natural grassland, which act as a food supply for insects and a seed source for the continuation of the species.

• Bracken eradication programme for species-rich grassland

Eradication of bracken from areas of species rich grassland, coastal or lowland heath to allow the other vegetation to re-establish.

• Creation, restoration and management of Species rich grassland

To convert arable or restore improved grassland to species diverse grassland to increase the diversity of flowering plants and other species to create a habitat and feeding area for a variety of invertebrates, birds and mammals.

• Management of coastal heath

To encourage the regeneration of native heathland plants and small grassland herbs found on coastal heaths.

• Management of lowland heath

To maintain the open nature of native lowland heath to encourage the regeneration of characteristic native plants and provide breeding and feeding grounds for associated wildlife

• Management of habitat mosaics

Support to maintain a mosaic of traditional semi-natural habitats on farmland that contributes to landscape diversity of an area

• Retention of cattle in marginal areas

To encourage the creation of mosaics by using cattle of traditional or native breeds as a grazing management tool, providing significant benefits for both the natural heritage and the local economy.

Grassland management for soils

• Restoration and management of upland peat soils

Restoration and management of upland peat soils to mitigate climate change and benefit biodiversity.

• Arable reversion to unfertilised grassland

Reversion of arable land to unfertilised grassland to prevent erosion or run-off.

• Arable reversion to grassland

Reversion of arable land to grassland with low fertiliser input to prevent erosion or run-off

• Erosion control on intensively managed grassland

Prevention of erosion or run-off from intensively managed improved grassland

Management for birds and other priority species

• Extensive management of mown grassland for birds

To encourage the management of hay and silage fields for the protection of ground nesting birds, their eggs and fledglings.

• Management of open grazed grassland for birds

To encourage the management of grazing land for the protection of ground nesting birds, their eggs and fledglings.

• Extensive management of mown grassland for corncrakes

To encourage the management of hay and silage fields for the protection of corncrakes, their eggs and fledglings.

• Creation and management of early and late cover for corncrakes

To encourage the management of grasslands for the protection of corncrakes, their eggs and fledglings.

• Management of wet grassland for waders

To provide suitable breeding and feeding grounds for wading birds and provide protection for their eggs and fledglings.

Management of wet areas

• Creation, restoration and management of wetlands

To create, restore and manage wetlands which are beneficial for biodiversity, the landscape and help with flood management.

• Management of lowland raised bogs

To enhance areas of lowland raised bogs to promote biodiversity and wetland functions.

• Creation and management of water margins

To enhance and protect wet and dry water margins from erosion and pollution and permit development of tall waterside vegetation to stabilise the banks and provide habitats for invertebrates and other species.

• Management of flood plains

To create and manage a mosaic of wash lands and dry lands by allowing the watercourse to overflow onto its natural floodplain.

• Management of basin and valley mire buffer areas

To conserve and enhance the buffer zone surrounding basin and valley mires by maintaining water levels and preventing enrichment by run-off from fields.

Management of woodland and scrub

• Management of ancient wood pasture

To enhance and extend sites within existing ancient wood pasture to ensure continuity of habitats which support a range of invertebrates, birds, plants and other wildlife.

• Forest environment payments

For sustainable management of native woodlands and areas subject to high public pressure, and for the introduction of low -impact silvicultural systems.

• Woodland improvement

To support management operations to increase or enhance priority woodland habitats and species.

• Woodland restructuring

To promote the diversification of woodland structure and composition for delivery of environmental and other public benefits

Woodland Creation

• Woodland creation >1 hectare

Woodland creation for public benefits. Includes farmland premium element and short rotation coppice establishment option.

Measures for small units

• Conservation management plan with special measures for small units

To encourage a mosaic of habitats of conservation value across small unit and within the crofting counties encourage community effort, through a management plan to maintain or enhance areas of conservation interest within the boundary of the crofting community.

• Retention or introduction of cattle of native or traditional breeds

To encourage the creation of mosaics by using cattle of traditional or native breeds as a grazing management tool, providing significant benefits for both the natural heritage and the local economy.

Moorland management

• Moorland management

To encourage changes in management practices to benefit a diverse range of habitats within a moorland of conservation interest, including feeding and breeding sites for birds and animals a wide range of insects and plants.

• Moorland - stock disposal

To encourage regeneration of suppressed heather and or moorland vegetation of conservation interest by reduction of sheep numbers on the holding.

• Moorland - stock control

To encourage regeneration of suppressed heather and or moorland vegetation of conservation interest by reduction of sheep numbers from sites at certain times of year.

• Muirburn and heather swiping

To create blocks of heather at different growth stages through a planned programme of burning or swiping.

• Supplementary food provision for raptors

To provide food for hen harriers during the nesting season or provision of carrion for golden eagles in the winter to aid their survival.

• Wardening (restricted availability)

To provide support for land managers on in priority areas to assist with protection of eagles.

• Sheep management (restricted availability)

To carry out enhanced sheep management including additional shepherding to reduce predation on sheep flocks by sea eagles.

• Creation and management of nest sites for raptors

Creation of nesting sites on moorland for raptors to allow them to nest undisturbed by livestock.

Organic support

• Conversion to organic farming

To support the conversion of conventional farming systems to organic production.

• Maintenance payments to organic farmers

To support the continuation of organic production following conversion.

Pollution control and resource management

• Manure/slurry composting and anaerobic digestion

Support for anaerobic digestion of slurry or composting of manure.

• Manure/slurry storage and handling

Support for improved storage and handling facilities for slurry, including installation of covers for slurry storage facilities to prevent the volume of slurry being increased through the addition of rainwater

• Calibration and testing of spreaders

Calibration of spreaders to ensure accurate application rates.

• Nutrient reduction

Decrease diffuse pollution on in-bye improved ground through planning and management measures to match fertiliser and manure applications to crop requirements.

• Construction of water retention reservoirs

Construction of water retention reservoirs for the collection of winter rainfall to minimise summer extraction from watercourses and water bodies.

• Creation of biobeds

To create shallow, rectangular excavations filled with biomix (e.g. straw, soil, peat-free compost, turf) and using an impermeable liner and collection facility for drainage from the biobed. Mixing and handling of pesticides or wash down should be done either directly over the biobed or in an adjacent bunded concrete area which drains to the biobed.

• Construction of wetlands to treat surface water run-off

Construction of farm wetlands to collect, store and treat lightly contaminated run-off from roofs, roads and yards to reduce inputs of diffuse pollutants to the water environment, provide habitat and biodiversity benefits, intercept emergency leaks or spillages and control storm water run-off.

• Creation of wet riparian buffer areas

Riparian buffer strips specifically designed to be proportionate to risk (i.e. the width should be dependent on soil type and slope) that are managed to enhance biodiversity, and encourage the river to follow its natural course thereby contributing to flood control and diffuse pollution control. Where suitable, field drains should be collapsed to form wet riparian buffers.

• In field grass areas to reduce surface run-off and erosion

Creation of grass areas across the slope to reduce run-off and erosion.