The first payments under Northern Ireland’s new Farming with Nature Transition Scheme have begun issuing to farmers, marking a milestone for the region’s efforts to reverse biodiversity decline while maintaining food production. Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir confirmed that £2.7 million is being distributed to 489 participants who completed environmental works by March 2026, as the scheme enters its second year with expanded options opening for applications later this month.
The payments represent the first financial returns from the Farming with Nature Package, a flagship element of DAERA’s Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP) that replaces the previous Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS). The initiative aims to support farm businesses across all land types to deliver environmental improvements alongside food production.
First Year Achievements on the Ground
Since its launch in 2025, the transition scheme has funded practical conservation work across Northern Ireland’s farmland. Participants who met the March 2026 deadline have delivered concrete results:
- Over 134 kilometres of new hedgerows planted
- 28 acres of farmland trees established
- More than 35 kilometres of riparian buffer strips created to protect watercourses
- 670 hectares of multi-species winter cover crops established
- Just over 836 hectares of winter stubble retained for wildlife
These actions address the habitat loss that has left Northern Ireland among the most nature-depleted regions worldwide, with farmland bird populations falling by 43% since 1996, according to the 2023 State of Nature report.
Minister’s Vision for Nature-Friendly Farming
Minister Muir emphasised the scheme’s role in supporting both farmers and the environment. He said:
“I am delighted to see the first payments issuing to farm businesses under the Sustainable Agriculture Programme’s Farming with Nature Package. The Farming with Nature Scheme is critical to help arrest and reverse the declines in farmland nature, whilst delivering a range of important environmental public goods such as improvement in water quality and carbon sequestration, alongside food production.”
Looking ahead to Year 2, the Minister outlined plans to expand the scheme’s scope based on stakeholder feedback. Applications for Year 2 will open from 30 June to 31 July 2026, offering enhanced flexibility and new actions. He added:
“The success of the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme in its first year is just the beginning. As the Scheme opens for Year 2, I look forward to seeing it continue to grow in both participation and the range of farmland options offered in order to maximise the positive environmental impact.”
Questions of Scale and Funding
While the scheme’s launch has been welcomed by farming and environmental organisations, the scale of participation raises questions about whether support is reaching sufficient breadth to address the ecological crisis. With 489 participants in Year 1, the scheme covers only a fraction of Northern Ireland’s agricultural land. The RSPB has noted that only 4.8% of Northern Ireland’s agricultural land currently sits within agri-environment schemes—far below England’s 20.7%, Scotland’s 21.9%, and Wales’s 28.5%.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union, which has participated in working groups shaping the scheme, has also raised concerns about the funding model. While the Transition Scheme was initially funded through additional capital, future phases will rely on money diverted from the ring-fenced agricultural budget as the Farm Sustainability Payment reduces over time. The UFU maintains that farmers must have the opportunity to recoup any losses from direct payments through environmental schemes.
Further strands of the Farming with Nature Package remain in development for 2026/27, including landscape-scale projects to support groups of farmers working collaboratively on larger environmental improvements, plus targeted support for priority habitats.
Application Details for Year 2
Farm businesses wishing to apply for Year 2 must submit applications between 30 June and 31 July 2026 through DAERA Online Services. Eligible businesses must hold a DAERA Category 1 or 2 Business Identification Number and not currently hold a live Environmental Farming Scheme agreement.
Participants can receive up to £9,500 for environmental actions including planting new hedgerows, establishing riparian buffers, farmland tree planting, and retaining winter stubble. Those requiring assistance can nominate an agent via the DAERA Customer Portal or contact the Grants and Funding helpline on 0300 200 7848.
Unanswered Questions on Long-Term Impact
As the scheme expands, several questions persist about its capacity to deliver transformative change:
- Will the Year 2 expansion attract significantly more than 489 participants given that less than 5% of Northern Ireland’s farmland is currently enrolled in agri-environment schemes?
- How will DAERA measure the scheme’s success against the continued decline in farmland biodiversity documented in State of Nature reports?
- Can the funding model sustain long-term nature recovery when budgets are being diverted from other farm support payments, and will farmers be adequately compensated for income lost through the reduction of direct payments?
- Will the promised landscape-scale projects, which require coordination among multiple farmers, be ready for the 2026/27 timeframe as planned?
Further information about the Sustainable Agriculture Programme and the Farming with Nature Package is available at www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/sustainable-agriculture-programme and www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/farming-nature-package.