Scottish EFA rises to 7% in 2027; beef scheme eased
Scotland will lift EFAs to 7% from 2027 and extend Suckler Beef Support claims to 14 January, with a small‑herd derogati...
Scotland’s latest rural support regulations tighten greening rules and tweak the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme following committee scrutiny and a December debate at Holyrood. The headline moves are a rise in Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) to 7% from 2027 and a longer claims window for beef producers. For farms trading through Longtown, Hexham and the Borders marts, the detail matters.
From 2027, arable businesses over 15 hectares will need to manage 7% of that land as EFA, up from 5%. Long‑standing exemptions are being removed, bringing more mixed and grass‑based farms into EFA management. Expect more hedges, margins and cover to be counted - and planned - rather than avoided under blanket exemptions.
The EFA toolkit expands. New options include low‑input grassland, herb‑ and legume‑rich pasture, unharvested crop and low‑density woodland planting. Farmers will also need to keep an EFA map on file and provide it on request, rather...