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Preparing for the Basic Payment Scheme in 2026

Several听important changes听to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will come into effect for the 2026 claim year. These changes听mainly affect听Whole Farm Plans (WFP)听补苍诲听贰苍丑补苍肠别诲听骋谤别别苍颈苍驳听谤别辩耻颈谤别尘别苍迟蝉听and听will influence how businesses complete their听Single Application Form (SAF).听Preparing in advance of the SAF window opening on听13 March is essential to avoid delays, missed requirements, or restrictions on future funding opportunities.听

Whole Farm Plan (WFP)听

Last year saw the introduction of increased conditionality to receive听the Basic Payment Scheme听in the form of the听Whole Farm Plan.听There are five parts to the听WFP,听but you only need to complete those relevant to your business. In 2026 if you want to receive support from BPS, you will need to complete at least two of these. This is the same as in 2025.听

As a reminder, plans are as follows:听

• Carbon Audit听(completed within 5-years of 15听May)听
• Biodiversity Audit听(completed within 5-years of 15听May)听
• Soil Analysis听(completed within 5-years of 15听May)听
• Animal Health听and听Welfare Plan听(renewed within 12 months of 15听May)听
• Integrated Pest Management Plan听(renewed within 12 months of 15听May)听

You may already have some of these plans in place, providing they meet the minimum standard and are in date on 15 May 2026, you don鈥檛 need to do anything further.听听

Further information on what each plan entails, and specific requirements can be found on听the听听or alternatively, contact your local听consultant.听听

It is听anticipated听that failure to implement/declare听plans听on your听2026听SAF听application听will not听result in financial penalties听to your BPS Payment,听however, may restrict access to other grant schemes in the future.听听

Greening听

New for 2026 is Enhanced Greening.听If you have more than 15 hectares of arable land, you need to manage Ecological Focus Areas (EFA). As a reminder an EFA is an area of arable land managed for climate and environmental benefit.听The 2026 claim year is the first听of enhanced greening, bringing changes to those that now require EFA.听Until now many farmers and crofters have been exempt from EFA requirements. If 75% or more of your land was used for grassland you听received听an听exception,听however,听the听75% grass exemption听has听been听removed听for 2026.听Permanent grassland does not require EFA, however, temporary grassland (within听five听years of age following an arable crop) is classed as arable land and will therefore be included in the 5% calculation of arable land on farm听requiring EFA.听There are several options of managing EFA. It is up to you to find the best option for your farm or croft.听

Submission of听EFA maps听with听your听SAF submission听is no-longer required, however these must be provided upon inspection.听

All changes听to听EFA听options for the听2026听claim year听are听detailed below, however,听further research into species type and farm situation should be considered before deciding on options听to take forward.听Speak to your local consultant for advice on managing EFA.听听听

Changes to current EFA options听are听detailed in the table听below:听

As a larger area of grassland will now require greening due to the removal of the 75% grassland exemption,听additional EFA options have been added, more suited to grassland. New options are highlighted below:

Preparation for new greening requirements should be done as soon as possible to allow time to implement changes. Whether this is ordering new seed mixes for margins, sowing soil conditioning crops for fallow or changing fertiliser applications to accommodate low input grassland.听听

Top听five听tips听for your SAF听application in 2026:听

1. Ensure your听Whole Farm Plan听audits/plans are up to date and听meet听the听required standard before trying to complete your SAF听application.听
2. Be aware that failure to听comply听with听Whole Farm Plan听could result in ineligibility for future grants/schemes.听
3. Many businesses who used to be exempt from听Ecological Focus Areas听due to having over 75% grass/forage听are now required to听have 5% of arable land in EFA due to听the new enhanced听greening rule changes.听
4. There are changes to EFA Fallow,听margins,听catch听crops,听green听cover,听nitrogen听fixing听crops听and听hedges.听Ensure that what you have previously claimed still meets new requirements.听
5. New听greening options are听available,听please contact听your听local SAC Consulting advisor for support.听

Kirsten Craig,听Agricultural Consultant,听Kirsten.Craig@sac.co.uk

Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/02/2026