Funding for the agri sector will continue – but the environmental policy agenda is gathering pace.

In a wide-ranging speech at the Royal Highland Show, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said the Scottish Government was co-designing a support framework that delivered high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature restoration.

She promised there would be ‘no cliff edges to support’ while ensuring a just transition and warned that change is coming and now is the time to prepare. Speaking to a packed venue, Ms Gougeon said the agriculture route map, published earlier this year, had been updated to include a number of changes.

From 2025, a new condition will be introduced to basic payments, with the sector expected to start implementing the principles of the EU good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC) for peatlands and wetlands to help restore the 250,000 ha of degraded peatlands by 2030.

Existing cross compliance conditions will also be maintained as a minimum in the new support framework and will apply across all four tiers of support.

The foundations of the Whole Farm Plan will go live in 2025. This included soil testing, animal health and welfare declaration, along with carbon and biodiversity audits.

Support to help farmers and crofters ‘prepare for sustainable farming' will be available, including financial support towards having a carbon audit performed.

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Up to a maximum of £1250 is available over two years to deliver animal health and welfare measures with access to herd data for cattle keepers, who will also be able to access MyHerdStats to provide consistent and accurate insight into herd performance.

Ms Gougeon described the beef industry as the powerhouse of the agricultural economy – but said emissions from the sector must be cut.

The suckler beef support scheme will see new conditions linked to calving intervals to encourage livestock keepers to reduce the emissions intensity of their cattle production systems.

The CabSec highlighted previous measures the Scottish Government had taken to support the sector the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine. She warned there could be further disruption to come from Brexit when import controls are introduced and said additional funding had been provided for the Scotland Food and Drink Recovery Plan and a food security unit within the Scottish Government has been established.

The unit is currently developing evidence-based monitoring for supply chain links. She added: “In response to the cost crisis, to provide increased financial security for farmers and crofters, I legislated last year to allow the start date of the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening payments to be made in September.

“Things have not really eased this year. Many agricultural businesses continue to deal with financial challenges and uncertainty. As a result, I can confirm that our 2023 payment strategy will seek to match the 2022 payment timings. That means basic and Greening payments starting to arrive from September for the second year in a row.”

Ms Gougeon also announced an ‘engagement programme for change’ with a range of materials and drop-in sessions at agriculture shows and auction marts across Scotland to explain future changes.