Funding to Support the Introduction of Legumes

Adding legumes to your crop rotation can bring significant advantages for your farm or croft’s production and the environment. These crops have the unique ability to draw nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form plants can use—eliminating the need for synthetic fertilisers. Even after harvest, legumes enrich the soil by leaving behind nitrogen that benefits the next planned crop.

Legumes are particularly effective as spring-sown crops, helping to balance workloads across the growing season. Whether grown as a primary crop or as green manure, they support biodiversity—attracting pollinators above ground and fostering healthy microbial life below ground— and they contribute to better soil structure and resilience.

In livestock systems, legumes offer a high-quality, easily digestible protein source. Compared to conventional rotations, they deliver this nutritional value with a smaller environmental footprint.

Interested in introducing legumes into your rotations? The Farm Advisory Service (FAS) can help. £3,200 of grant funding is available through FAS for up to two specialist advice topics, including Soil and Nutrient Management and Business Efficiency and a further £2,000 for an Integrated Land Management Plan. To find out more and apply, visit our Specialist Advice/Advice & Grants page , email advice@fas.scot or call 0300 323 0161.