Farmers and crofters no longer need to have completed an integrated land management plan (ILMP) before applying for up to £1000 of specialist advice – this makes it easier for businesses to gain funding for advice.

As part of the changes to funding, new entrants (businesses operating for five years or less) can apply for up to £1200 of government funding to cover the full costs of an ILMP. Other businesses will only have to pay the VAT on the cost of the advice or plans.

Restrictions on the number of plans and specialist advice reports a single business can undertake were reset from April 1. Farming and crofting businesses that have already completed an ILMP and follow-on specialist advice reports, can now apply for the same level of support for a second time round.

Farmers and crofters are able to get specialist advice on the following:

• Animal welfare

• Archaeological and historic site advice

• Biodiversity, habitat and landscape management

• Carbon audit action plan (new)

• Climate change adaptation and mitigation

• Crofter’s plan (new)

• Farm business efficiency

• Organics

• Resilience planning

• Soil and nutrient management

• Succession planning

• Water pollution prevention and control

• Woodland management and conservation

For more information visit www.fas.scot/advice-grant