Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced that the Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS) and the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) are now open for funding applications from farmers, crofters and land managers across Scotland.
Applications can be submitted online using the new Rural Payments and Services system which the Scottish Government launched in January.
The AECS and FGS can only be applied for online.
Everyone (including those who plan to apply for other Common Agricultural Policy schemes by paper) must first register at www.ruralpayments.org, otherwise their payments will not be processed.
Mr Lochhead said: “After much hard work from everyone involved, we are pleased to announce that the Forestry Grant Scheme and Agri-Environment Climate Scheme are now open for funding applications.
“As in previous years, customers must apply for these schemes online,” he said.
“Fifty-five per cent of our customers have now registered with our new system.
“But for those who haven’t, they must remember that in order for us to process payments for FGS and AECS, and all other CAP funding, everyone must register for the Rural Payments and Services system by May 15 2015.”
The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme will be open for applications until June 12.
The Forestry Grant Scheme is open for applications all year round.
Anyone who has not already registered online with the Rural Payments and Services system should visit
https://www.ruralpayments.org
.