Return of the Agri-Environmental Climate Scheme
The application听window听for the Agri-Environment Climate听Scheme听(AECS)听will reopen on the 23听February听2026听and close on the 20 June听2026.听听
Launched in 2015,听The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) is Scotland鈥檚 principal environmental scheme.听The scheme offers payments to promote the uptake of nature friendly farming practices.听So far, a total of 拢339 million has been听allocated听to 3,417 businesses through the scheme, supporting a variety of projects aimed at preserving and enhancing our diverse natural environment.听听
Successful applications run for five years so there is a level of commitment involved, therefore anyone considering applying should carefully consider this alongside management options.听听The scheme听remains听competitive, with applications scored on several factors. The scoring criteria can be found听on the听. The scoring threshold is听established听annually for all applications, but only after the submission deadline so applicants and agents do not know in advance exactly how many points will be听required听for approval.鈥齀n 2024 and 2023听there was a higher success rate of applications听compared听with 2022听which was far听more competitive.听Decisions on the AECS 2025 round have recently been announced (06.02.26) with all successful applicants notified by email.听A list of decisions on the applications will be published by application reference on the
It is anticipated that the 2026 could well be a highly competitive funding round.鈥� No application is a guaranteed success. There are some changes to the management prescriptions and to the scoring for 2026.
Currently the scheme has over 60听management options, with popular options including.听
- Stubbles Followed by Green Manure in an Arable Rotation (拢498.49/ha/yr plus 拢278 capital for establishment of green manure)听
- Wader Grazed Grassland (拢80/ha/yr)听
- Grass Strips in Arable Fields (拢495.62/ha/yr)听
- Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds (拢322.63/ha/yr)听
The financial support that AECS provides enables farmers to manage, restore and create habitats for the benefit of听vulnerable听species听and听the wider environment, for example by managing species-rich grasslands, regenerating听hedgerows听or听establishing听buffer strips.鈥疦ow is the time to think whether the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS), could work for you, as a considerable amount of planning and thought needs to go into an application. For help and guidance with applications please听get in touch with听your local consultant who can help you.听听
A听well-thought-out听scheme can听deliver听numerous听benefits both for the environment and your business听e.g.听wild bird seed can occupy awkward and unproductive arable field听corners and water margins can be fenced off to protect stock health and water quality as well as being a financial boost.听听
For more听information,听please refer to听the听听on the听Rural Payments website.听
5 Top Tips听
- Use听the听targeting听tool听to听find out听what听AECS management听options are available on your holding.听Remember to do this for听ALL听your location codes if you have more than one.听
- Make sure you read the
- For advice and help with applying, speak to your local consultant sooner rather than later.听
- For听applications that听involve a designated site (SSSI, SPA), speak to NatureScot to get their advice and endorsement听if needed.听
- Double check everything before you听submit.听There is a helpful听list of what is听required听on the听听on the听听
Remember your commitment, if successful, will not start until January 2027, with the first management payment made in 2028 (claimed on SAF 2027).听
David J. Brown, Environmental Consultant,听David.Brown@sac.co.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/02/2026
