Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme

The Scottish Government has now published details of a pilot grant scheme called the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme (SACGS) to provide grant funding for farmers and crofters to purchase specific items of agricultural equipment.

The main objectives/expected outcomes of the scheme are:

protecting and improving the natural environment;
reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farming operations;
supporting sustainable farming; and
supporting sustainable land use.

All Scottish farmers and crofters with a Business Reference Number (BRN) can apply.

The maximum amount a single farm business can receive is £20,000 with grant awards based on 60% of standard cost. Priority will be given to farmers and crofters who completed a carbon audit and/or a nutrient management plan, and/or a vet herd health plan between 01 March 2017 and 01 March 2020.

A link to the online guidance can be found here.

Below is a list of capital items supported under the scheme:

Cattle Equipment

Squeeze crush (manually operated)
Head scoop (cattle)
Specialist foot trimming crush
Calving detectors
Heat detection system – base unit
Heat detection system – collar or ankle band
Heat and service detector
Hand-held automatic teat washing system
Visual image of analysis of cow and body condition score
Auto cattle weighing equipment
Calving gate
Real time milk analysis

Sheep Equipment

Electronic weigh crate
Sheep handler
Automatic weighing and drafting crate for sheep

General Livestock

Electric fencer energiser
Electronic weigh systems (all species)
Cameras for monitoring livestock
UV water treatment system
EID Hand held recorder device
EID Hand held device (stick reader)
Auto EID drench gun
Vaccination gun with RFID reader for vaccination of livestock

Precision farming equipment

Grassland sward lifters
Pasture plate meter (handheld)
GPS guidance
GPS guidance with autosteer on old tractor – bolt on motor
GPS guidance with auto steer on old tractor replacement steering wheel with motor
GPS guidance with integration of hydraulic steering & ISOBUS implement control
Yield monitoring
Variable rate for controller for sprayers and fertiliser spreaders
Flow sate monitoring of slurry
Measuring nitrogen levels in crops using light reflectance
Hand held device for measuring nitrogen levels in crops using light reflectance
Chlorophyll meter
Trailing shoe slurry system including macerators
Dribble bar
Shallow injection systems

General agricultural equipment