The Rural Support Scheme (RSS) has been updated for 2024 with increased funding, supported by a revised grant delivery method which will reward local businesses using a points based ‘rural credit’ system to calculate support payments.
RSS structure
The RSS is organised into 3 tiers:
- Tier 1: rewards businesses with accreditation from indepentently audited quality schemes
- Tier 2: recognises decoupled production, including livestock numbers and primary land use areas
- Tier 3: features a revised Rural Initiative Scheme (RIS), offering grant support for projects and recognising integrated farm management practices, staff training, and landscape (environmental) management.
Credits are awarded to each farm business for various activities and converted into grant payments.
Payments for 2024 will be based on data from 2023.
How to qualify for the 2024 RSS
To qualify for the 2024 Rural Support Scheme, you must be a registered as a bona fide agriculturalist, which means you are involved in land-based primary production and obtaining income from agriculture or horticulture which meets a target level of economic activity of £40,000 per year.
Alternatively, you can qualify as a Smallholder (part time or small scale agriculturalist) if you actively participate in land-based production and meet a reduced level of economic activity as compared with a bona fide agriculturalist (currently £5,000 total gross margin per year).
For more information, see the Agricultural Land (Control of Sales and Leases) (Jersey) Law 1974 and find out how agricultural land is controlled.
If you think you may qualify and are one of the above categories but are not officially registered with us, email
ruraleconomy@gov.je.
Application timeline and submission dates
To apply, complete and return the following:
- RSS Application for 2024
- 2023 Agricultural Return
- Land Declaration Spreadsheet
- Accounts or Financial Declaration for 2023: signed by your accountant
The 2024 application process is now closed and will re-open in January 2025.
gov.je