Scottish EFA Changes

This year, the Scottish government has made changes to the Ecological Focus Area (EFA), which is a requirement under the enhanced greening section of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

The changes include:

– The removal of the 75% exemption for temporary grassland
– The removal of the 75% exemption for grassland on claimed land

However, this does not apply if the farm is exempt from the enhanced greening requirements, due to it being certified organic or having less than 15ha of non-organic arable land.  

James Frazer, Nickerson Seed Specialist, is happy to help you meet the new EFA requirements

The number of options has increased to 11 – they can be used on their own or in combination, to meet the EFA requirement:

All the options are listed below:

• – Fallow land
  – Margins
  – Catch crops
  – Green cover
  – Nitrogen-fixing crops
  – Hedges
  – Agroforestry
  – Low input grassland
  – Herb and legume rich pastures
  – Alternative EFA agro forestry option
  – Unharvested crop

At Nickerson, we can supply bespoke mixtures that adhere to many of the above options.

Please contact James Frazer or Douglas Bonn for further information.