£1,600 audit funding boost as advice scheme reopens for Scottish farmers

Scottish farmers are being urged to tap into funded expert advice as a key support scheme reopens, offering help to meet fast-approaching Whole Farm Plan requirements and avoid disruption to support payments.

The Specialist Advice Grants (SAG) scheme reopened on 1 April, providing funding for tailored guidance on business performance, environmental management and succession planning — including up to £1,600 for a biodiversity audit.

The funding can be used to access advice on a range of areas, such as habitat management, business efficiency and succession planning.

Hamish Dunbar-Nasmith, a farming consultant in Strutt & Parker’s rural team, said now is the time for farmers to assess how the support could benefit their business.

“The basic premise of the scheme, which is run by the Farm Advisory Service, is that it funds tailored and specialist advice from a farm advisor of your choice,” he said.

He highlighted a key change for 2026 — standalone carbon audit funding has been scrapped.

“However, there is still a grant available for a carbon audit action plan, which will be useful for businesses who have received a carbon audit and need further support and advice to implement it,” he said.

The Whole Farm Plan, introduced in 2025, requires farmers to complete a set of audits and plans to improve sustainability and business performance.

Farmers must confirm on their Single Application Form (SAF) that at least two actions are completed by 15 May 2026.

“But by 2028 at the latest, farmers will need to have all the plans and audits that are applicable to their business in place,” Mr Dunbar-Nasmith added.

He warned that these must be kept up to date to remain valid, with some — including carbon and biodiversity audits — needing to be renewed every five years.

Farmers are being urged to review outstanding requirements now and use the scheme to ensure compliance ahead of deadlines.