Preparing for Sustainable Farming Funding Continuing for Final Year

Farmers and crofters will be able to continue to access payments to carry out soil analysis, carbon audits, and animal health and welfare interventions for an extra year. The ‘Preparing for Sustainable Farming’ payments were originally due to end next month (March), but activities performed during 2025 will continue to be funded and claims will be accepted up until the end of February 2026.

This funding helps farmers and crofters meet the requirements of the Whole Farm Plan, including financial support towards the cost of soil analysis and £500 towards having a Carbon Audit performed.

Additionally, support is available for animal health and welfare interventions, with £750 for first time claimants and £500 for those who have already benefited in previous years.

The scheme year will be from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 – that means any activity that farmers and crofters have already done this year will be eligible. The claim window will open 1 March 2025 and close 28 February 2026. The payment rates and scheme guidance remain the same as previous years.

The 2024 Preparing for Sustainable Farming claim deadline is 28 February 2025, so any activity undertaken in 2024 must be claimed by then.

This is the final year this funding will be available, so farmers and crofters are encouraged to make use of this support now and continue to prepare for the new future support framework. Find more information about PSF, including the full scheme guidance, on the Rural Payments website.