Scottish farmers face autumn wait for FFIS 2026 details

Scottish farmers hoping for fresh details on the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) at this week’s Royal Highland Show have been left disappointed after ministers confirmed an announcement is still “two or three months” away.

The Scottish government had been expected to provide clarity on the future of the capital grant scheme, which attracted huge demand when it first opened in 2025 and is due to return in 2026 with a £14.25m budget.

See also: Analysis: Scottish farming demands delivery after SNP pledges

Speaking at the Royal Highland Show on Thursday 18 June, Scottish farming minister Jim Fairlie said officials were still working through the design of the next scheme and wanted to get it right rather than rush out proposals.

“We are not going to announce anything this week,” he told reporters. “We’re probably two or three months away from making any announcement on FFIS because we need to make sure that what we’re putting together is fit for purpose and actually delivers what we’re asking it to deliver.”

Mr Fairlie acknowledged the strength of feeling surrounding the scheme following last year’s heavily oversubscribed round.

“The demand for FFIS showed us there is a real appetite for investment on farms and crofts across Scotland,” he said.

“What we have to do now is make sure the scheme is designed in a way that delivers the outcomes we’re looking for while being fair and transparent.”

NFUS recommendations

The delay comes after NFU Scotland sent a detailed package of recommendations for FFIS 2026 to the Scottish government in May, arguing that improvements are needed to maintain farmer confidence in the scheme.

Among its proposals, the union wants ministers to replace the controversial priority-group system with targeted grant rates for new entrants, tenant farmers and island businesses.

It is also calling for clear scoring criteria to be published, a defined list of eligible capital items and the introduction of match funding instead of 100% grants.

NFU Scotland believes the scheme should move beyond a narrow focus on emissions reduction and instead support four key areas: productivity, environmental sustainability, animal health and welfare, and business resilience.

The union has also warned against excluding successful FFIS 2025 applicants from future rounds and is pressing ministers to provide longer-term funding certainty beyond 2026.