Preparing for the Basic Payment Scheme in 2026 - Are You Ready for the Changes?
Several important changes to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will come into effect for the 2026 claim year. These changes mainly affect Whole Farm Plans (WFP) and Enhanced Greening requirements and will influence how businesses complete their Single Application Form (SAF). Preparing in advance of the SAF window opening on 16 March is essential to avoid delays, missed requirements, or restrictions on future funding opportunities.
Whole Farm Plan (WFP)
Last year saw the introduction of increased conditionality to receive the Basic Payment Scheme in the form of the Whole Farm Plan. There are five parts to the WFP, 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.
As a reminder, plans are as follows:
- Carbon Audit (completed within 5-years of 15 May)
- Biodiversity Audit (completed within 5-years of 15 May)
- Soil Analysis (completed within 5-years of 15 May)
- Animal Health and Welfare Plan (renewed within 12 months of 15 May)
- Integrated Pest Management Plan (renewed within 12 months of 15 May)
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’t need to do anything further.
Further information on what each plan entails, and specific requirements can be found on the Rural Payments website or alternatively, contact your local consultant.
It is anticipated that failure to implement/declare plans on your 2026 SAF application will not result in financial penalties to your BPS Payment, however, may restrict access to other grant schemes in the future.
Greening
New for 2026 is Enhanced Greening. 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. The 2026 claim year is the first of enhanced greening, bringing changes to those that now require EFA. Until now many farmers and crofters have been exempt from EFA requirements. If 75% or more of your land was used for grassland you received an exception, however, the 75% grass exemption has been removed for 2026. Permanent grassland does not require EFA, however, temporary grassland (within five 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 requiring EFA. There are several options of managing EFA. It is up to you to find the best option for your farm or croft.
Submission of EFA maps with your SAF submission is no-longer required, however these must be provided upon inspection.
All changes to EFA options for the 2026 claim year are detailed below, however, further research into species type and farm situation should be considered before deciding on options to take forward. Speak to your local consultant for advice on managing EFA.
Changes to current EFA options are detailed in the table below:
As a larger area of grassland will now require greening due to the removal of the 75% grassland exemption, 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.
Top five tips for your SAF application in 2026:
- Ensure your Whole Farm Plan audits/plans are up to date and meet the required standard before trying to complete your SAF application.
- Be aware that failure to comply with Whole Farm Plan could result in ineligibility for future grants/schemes.
- Many businesses who used to be exempt from Ecological Focus Areas due to having over 75% grass/forage are now required to have 5% of arable land in EFA due to the new enhanced greening rule changes.
- There are changes to EFA Fallow, margins, catch crops, green cover, nitrogen fixing crops and hedges. Ensure that what you have previously claimed still meets new requirements.
- New greening options are available, please contact your local SAC Consulting advisor for support.
Kirsten Craig, Agricultural Consultant, Kirsten.Craig@sac.co.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/02/2026
