Grant or payment · Scotland
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)
Five-year agreements and capital grants for land management that helps wildlife, water quality, flood risk, historic sites and climate, plus organic conversion and maintenance and irrigation lagoons.
- From
- Scottish Government / RPID and NatureScot
- How much
- Rates per option and capital item (see the AECS options guidance). Budget about £25.6m.
- Who can apply
- Farmers, groups of farmers, crofters and other land managers in Scotland registered with Rural Payments and Services. Options depend on target areas, or a NatureScot endorsement outside them.
- Opens
- 23 February 2026
- Closes
- 29 June 2026
What you’ll need
- Rural Payments and Services account and BRN
- Control of the land for the contract period
- Supporting documents for the options chosen
- Fair Work First compliance
How to apply
- Check options with the AECS targeting tool
- Apply online when the next round opens
- Claim management payments yearly on the SAF; claim capital items after the work
2026 round: agri-environment, combined and irrigation lagoon applications 23 February to midnight 29 June 2026 (extended for system downtime, news 19 May 2026); organics-only applications until 31 July 2026. Slurry stores and Improving Public Access can no longer be applied for. No 2027 round announced as of 30 October 2026; the Rural Support Plan annex says the scheme opens yearly from February to July.
Similar schemes
- Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) 2026 OpenScottish Government / RPID · Closes 14 January 2027Payment per eligible beef calf to help keep suckler herds in Scotland, with separate mainland and island rates.
- Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) 2026 OpenScottish Government / RPID · Closes 30 November 2026Flat-rate payment for each homebred ewe hogg kept on rough grazing farms that rely on Payment Region 3 land.
- Croft House Grant Open all yearScottish Government / RPIDGrants for crofters to build a new croft house, rebuild or improve one, or make it more energy efficient.
- Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme (CAGS) Open all yearScottish Government / RPIDCapital grants for crofters to build or improve agricultural buildings and other croft works, and to set up Common Grazings Committees.
- Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme (bull hire) Open all yearScottish Government / RPIDHire of Scottish Government-owned bulls to groups of crofters who cannot practically keep their own bull or use AI.
Checked against the official pages on 29 October 2026. Sources: 1, 2, 3. Always read the official page before you apply.