Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) - Scottish Government funding programme

Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) focuses on carbon emissions and sequestration, identifying recommendations that can lower these emissions and increase efficiencies. There are two options currently being funded in the first phase that farmers and crofters can claim funding for

Carbon Audits

Soil Sampling and Nutrient Management Plans

A little bit more about Carbon Auditing... up to £500 flat rate standard cost is available to farm businesses in Scotland with a BRN.

The CA must be created using a recognised tool such as those suggested here and align to PAS 2050 standard.

Additionally, you must seek recommendations on reducing your farm emissions from a FBAASS Advisor. If you already have a CA done in the last three years, but it is not PAS 2050 accredited, then you can claim for a new CA. If you already have a PAS 2050 CA done in the last three years, you are not eligible for a new CA under this PSF scheme.

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Soil Sampling...you must have a CA done first and must be claiming Region 1 on your SAF (Soil Sampling funding only applies to Region 1 land). Then:

• Analyse soil to determine the current levels of pH, Phosphate (P), Potash (K) and carbon in the soil
• Work out the crop P and K nutrient requirements based on the soil analysis (e.g. using SRUC Fertiliser Technical notes or PLANET (Scotland) software)
• Estimate the supply of nutrients from organic manures applied based on standard tables or preferably by manure analysis
• Use the development time allocation to take part in meetings about improving soil structure and nutrient management to help review the best practice methods or learn how to carry out soil sampling in the future

When sampling your fields, it is recommended you analyse 20% of your Region 1 farmland annually. Most organic farmers do this routinely on a rotational basis.

Funding is based on Actual Cost up to your 'Allowance' - which is calculated as follows:

• calculate the Region 1 area on your SAF
• Divide that area by 5 (20 per cent)
• Multiply that figure by £30 (the maximum allowance set by ScotGov)

There is also a flat rate Standard Cost element of £250 paid to all Sampling applications to support you increasing your knowledge about soil carbon and nutrient management.  This supports your time to take advice and attend meetings.

YOU MUST analyse pH, Potassium, Phosphate and Carbon.

‍The carbon test may be a Loss on Ignition (LOI) test that measures the weight of a dried soil before and after burning away its carbon (in the form of organic matter) which is turned into a percentage, or a Dumas test which similarly burns the carbon off but uses a higher temperature for a much shorter time. The carbon released is measured as a gas and turned into a percentage. Both methods provide accurate readings of the carbon levels in the soil.

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For further detail you should read the Scheme Guidance here.