Eligibility check
Answer five quick questions and see exactly which of the five Whole Farm Plans your holding needs — and which it doesn't — each in plain English.
For Scottish farmers & crofters
Every plan in place by 15 May 2028.
The Whole Farm Plan is phasing in. Right now you need at least 2 of the five; by 15 May 2028 you'll need every plan that applies to your holding. Cairnly shows you which ones those are and keeps you ahead of them.
Now in private alpha · no card needed · plain English
2028 is the deadline. 2027 is when the work actually happens.
Soil samples come out of the ground in the field season, not in the spring you declare — so for most holdings the real crunch lands across the 2027 seasons. Carbon audits and ecology surveys book up the same way. Leaving it until 2028 means competing for the same advisers as everyone else.
Where the requirement stands today
Whole Farm Plan requirements are being introduced in stages. Current guidance requires at least two applicable audits or plans when submitting the SAF. Rural Payments and Inspections Division may check declared plans. If fewer than two have been completed, current guidance says a warning letter is issued rather than a payment penalty. Requirements can change, so check the official guidance before submitting.
The number rises again for the 2027 claim year. That figure hasn't been published yet — when it lands, Cairnly updates and tells you what changed for your holding.
Everything you need to stay compliant
Plan log
Record when you completed each plan. Cairnly works out the expiry date and shows whether it's valid, expiring soon, or lapsed — at a glance.
Deadline reminders
Email and SMS reminders at 90, 30 and 7 days before each 15 May SAF deadline, personalised to your farm's plans and status.
Field-by-field soil tracking
Soil sampling runs per field on a five-year cycle. Cairnly tracks each field separately, so one overlooked parcel doesn't quietly hold back the whole plan.
How it works
1
Tell us about your holding
Land type, hectarage, livestock, pesticides and any quality-assurance schemes — under five minutes, no jargon.
2
See the plans you need
A clear list of your required Whole Farm Plans, with a plain-English reason for each.
3
Work back from 2028
Log what's done, see what's outstanding, and get reminded before each deadline — while there's still time to book the work in.
Apply for early access
Cairnly is in private alpha. Tell us about your holding and we'll be in touch.