Grant or payment · Scotland
Young Farmer payment and National Reserve
Top-up for young farmers on BPS, and a way for new and young farmers to get BPS payment entitlements if they do not already hold them.
- From
- Scottish Government / RPID
- How much
- Young Farmer payment: 25% of the average value of your payment entitlements, on up to 90 eligible hectares. National Reserve: an allocation of payment entitlements.
- Who can apply
- Young Farmer payment: sole traders or heads of business under 41 on 31 December of the first application year, with at least 3 ha. National Reserve: young farmers, or new entrants who started farming in 2013 or later and claimed within two years of starting.
- Opens
- 13 March 2026
- Closes
- 15 May 2026
What you’ll need
- Rural Payments and Services account and BRN
- Evidence of age, control of the business and start date
- Supporting documents by 15 May
How to apply
- Apply on the Single Application Form during the annual window
- Send supporting documents by 15 May
- Next window expected March to 15 May 2027
SAF 2026 closed 15 May 2026. The National Reserve page's latest update is dated 19 January 2017; check current rules with your RPID area office.
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.