Grant or payment · Scotland

Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS)

Closed Farm schemes and payments

Yearly area payment for livestock farmers and crofters on Less Favoured Area land, to keep farming going in remote and hard-to-farm areas.

From: Scottish Government / RPID
How much: Per adjusted hectare (provisional): more disadvantaged land (grazing categories A and B) £52.16 standard, £62.10 fragile mainland, £71.35 very fragile islands; less disadvantaged land (C and D) £34.12, £54.51 and £63.00. Minimum payment £385. Reductions apply over 4,000 ha.
Who can apply: Livestock farmers and crofters aged 16 or over actively farming at least 3 ha of eligible LFA land in Scotland for most of the claim year.
Opens: 13 March 2026
Closes: 15 May 2026

What you’ll need

Rural Payments and Services account and BRN
Land declared on the SAF
Cross compliance on all land

How to apply

Claim on the Single Application Form in the annual window
Next window expected March to 15 May 2027

Full guidance published 4 February 2026. Rates are the 2018 rates (in place since 2021) and are provisional, so they may be cut to fit the budget (about £65.5m). The Rural Support Plan annex keeps LFASS as Tier 1 support but does not say what will replace it or when. 2026 claims closed with the SAF on 15 May 2026.

Official page Check if it fits my farm Work out what I’d earn

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, 4. Always read the official page before you apply.