Business and Policy November 2026 – Policy

June Agricultural Census 2026 

Results from the June Agricultural Census 2026 were published on 8 October, providing an annual update on trends in agricultural activity across the country.  

Looking firstly at livestock, in 2026, there were 1.67 million cattle, an increase of 0.7% compared with last year and 1.3% below the five-year average (2021 to 2025). Annual increases in male cattle, female beef cattle and calves offset a fall in female dairy cattle. Over the past decade, the number of breeding beef cows has decreased by 14% from 436,600 in 2016. Over the same period, the dairy breeding herd increased by 4.1% to 182,300. The number of pigs increased for the first time since 2022 to 327,700. This was 4.9% more than last year but remains 1.2% below the five-year average. Other livestock results show that poultry fell by 4.4% to 11.88 million and there were 6.50 million sheep, 0.5% less than last year and 2.2% below the five-year average. Sheep were found to be weighed more frequently than cows, with 42% of holdings weighing their sheep between one and five times per year and 17% weighing them six or more times. Other information gathered on technology showed automatic heat detection is used by 1.6% of holdings with beef cows (61 holdings). In contrast, 37% of holdings with dairy cows (224) use automatic heat detection. 

The area used to grow winter crops (wheat, winter barley and winter oats) increased by 6.9% compared with the five-year average, while spring planted crops (spring barley and spring oats) decreased by 16%. This was largely driven by a 17% reduction in spring barley compared with the five-year average. The planted potato area decreased by 4.5% in 2026 to 29,000 hectares. The planted potato area remained 1.8% above the five-year average of 28,500 hectares. In 2026, the vegetable crop area reached 24,300 hectares, 11% above the five-year average. This rise in vegetables grown for human consumption is mainly due to increases in peas and beans for canning, freezing and drying, and in carrots. The total soft fruit growing area was 1,800 hectares, 10% below the five-year average and its lowest level since 2015, largely due to a decrease in strawberry production. 

The total agricultural workforce was 66,100 people in 2026, a decrease of 700 people when compared with the previous year and a decrease of 1.5% when compared with the five-year average. 

The full statistical publication is available on the Scottish Government website.  

 

Avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N5 was confirmed in Ness, Isle of Lewis in October. The current risk level in Scotland was updated from low to medium for infection in wild birds. The risk of poultry and captive bird exposure to HPAI H5 across Great Britain is at low where biosecurity is sub-optimal, and very low where stringent biosecurity measures are applied. Latest outbreak updates can be found here. The key message is that good biosecurity will limit the spread of disease during an outbreak. You can check where disease control zones are located and if you are in a zone on the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) interactive map. Vigilance by bird keepers is important and any suspicion of avian influenza in kept birds in Scotland must be reported immediately to the local APHA Field Services office. 

 

Nature and wildfire recovery 

The Scottish Government has announced £1.347 million in funding for nature recovery projects across Scotland, including £150,100 to restore habitats damaged by this summer’s wildfires in the Cairngorms. Announced on 24 October, the funding will also support river improvements, deer management, invasive species control, peatland restoration and support for species such as native oysters and choughs. For farmers and land managers, the investment highlights the continued focus on habitat restoration, biodiversity and sustainable land management. The funding is allocated to specific projects rather than being a new grant scheme open to all farmers and forms part of Scotland’s wider £23 million nature restoration budget for 2026–27. Projects will be delivered through organisations including NatureScot and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.  

 

UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement 

The UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement is a proposed deal to bring UK and EU rules on animal health, plant health, food safety and farming standards closer together, with the aim of making it easier and less costly to trade agricultural products between the UK and Europe by reducing border checks, paperwork and delays. For Scottish farmers, key potential benefits include reopening EU markets for Scottish seed potatoes, improved export opportunities and access to new gene-edited crop varieties that could help improve resilience to pests, diseases and climate change. However, closer alignment with EU rules, could also mean changes to the availability of certain pesticides, as well as changes to requirements for animal welfare, livestock transport, antimicrobial use, disease control and organic production. These changes could have practical and financial implications across all farming sectors, making transition periods important to allow time to adapt. It is the intention that the agreement will come into effect in mid-2027, exact timings of when arrangements will change are subject to the outcome of ongoing negotiations. For more information, visit the UK Government website for updates on the SPS negotiations and implementation plans. 

SPS agreement: information for businesses – GOV.UK  

SPS agreement: preparing your business – GOV.UK 

 

Community Engagement Obligations and draft large land holdings guidance under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025  

The Scottish Government is seeking views on how new community engagement rules under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 should work in practice, with a focus on encouraging greater engagement between owners of large landholdings and the communities around them. The proposals will help shape requirements for land management plans and how community groups can request to lease land or have land constituted as crofting land. This could be particularly relevant to farmers, tenant farmers, crofters and rural communities, as it may influence how large estates communicate their plans and involve local people in decisions about land use. The consultation also includes guidance on identifying what counts as a large landholding. No new rules are being finalised at this stage: the consultation aims to gather views before developing the detailed regulations, with a further consultation on draft regulations expected in autumn 2027. 

Take part in the consultation here. 

 

Nature Restoration Fund 

The Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is now open for Expressions of Interest, the deadline for submission is 12 noon on Thursday 26 November 2026. The NRF has already invested more than £90 million in projects, helping restore habitats, species, rivers and woodlands. For Scottish farmers and land managers, it offers a valuable opportunity to secure funding for practical nature restoration work, with grants ranging from £25,000 to over £250,000. A new funding round is expected to open in summer 2027, subject to Scottish Government budget approval, making now a good time to start developing ideas. NatureScot is hosting a webinar and a Q&A session for prospective applicants on 4 November 2026, this will cover funding opportunities, eligible projects and application guidance. 

Register for the NRF webinar here. 

If you have any questions, you can contact the NRF mailbox here.  

 

Relevant Scottish Government Publications & Consultations 

Publications	Publication Date
Avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks - gov.scot	Updated 09 October 2026
Avian influenza (bird flu): how to spot and report the disease	Updated 26 October 2026
Results from the Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2026 - gov.scot	8 October 2026
Nature and wildfire recovery - gov.scot	24 October 2026
Future Farming Investment Scheme 2026 full guidance	October 2026

Consultations	Closing Date
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Tier 4 of the Agricultural Reform Programme	14 December 2026
Price controls on essential food items: draft legislative provisions	24 November 2026
Community Engagement Obligations and draft large land holdings guidance under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025	26 January 2026

 

Key Date  

Date	Actions
1 September – 30 November	Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme claims submission window