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Scottish Farmers Slam Unfair Grants Allocation in Future Farming Scheme
4 Nov
Summary
- 3,500 of 7,500 applications for £21m fund did not meet eligibility criteria
- Farmers and politicians claim distribution of money was "unfair"
- Less than 1% of funds allocated to applicants in Western Isles
As of November 4th, 2025, the Scottish government is under fire from some farmers and crofters over the allocation of grants for the £21m Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS). The scheme aimed to boost productivity, sustainability, and efficiency within the agriculture sector, but the results have left many disappointed.
Out of the 7,500 applications submitted, around 3,500 did not meet the eligibility criteria. This has led to claims from farmers and politicians that the distribution of money was "unfair". The National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) president, Andrew Connon, acknowledged that some members secured funding, but others were left disappointed despite submitting what they believed to be "strong and eligible" applications.
The situation has been particularly challenging for crofters in the Western Isles, where less than 1% of the funds were allocated, according to Labour MP Torcuil Crichton. He claimed the Scottish government had promised to focus the funding on supporting island communities, but the reality has been quite different.
The Scottish government, however, has refuted claims of unfairness. Agriculture and Connectivity Minister Jim Fairlie stated that the government has other schemes specifically for crofters, and that lessons will be learned to improve the FFIS moving forward. The scheme is currently under review, and Fairlie acknowledged that the next iteration may need to be more targeted to ensure a fairer distribution of the funds.
