The Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) is now open for applications, Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture has announced.
The EFS is a new agri-environment scheme under the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020, which is part funded by the European Union.
The Scheme has three levels:
• Wider Level to deliver benefits across the countryside outside of environmentally designated areas;
• Higher Level, primarily for environmentally designated sites;
• Group Level to support co-operative action by farmers in specific areas such as river catchment.
The scheme has been designed to address specific environmental needs, primarily relating to biodiversity and water quality.
Successful applicants will be offered a five year agreement to deliver a range of targeted environmental measures.
'Addressing environmental needs'
Ulster Farmers’ Union Environment chairman, Wilbert Mayne, has welcomed the announcement.
“Many farmers will be glad to hear that this long awaited scheme will finally be opening for applications,” said Mr Mayne.
“The scheme is quite different from previous agri-environment schemes and is focused on addressing specific environmental needs, such as biodiversity and water quality. Also, farmers should be aware that it is not a ‘whole farm’ scheme but offers a range of options for farms.
“Given the changes to the scheme and the need to complete the application online I would encourage farmers to give themselves plenty of time to set up a Government Gateway Account and study the requirements for completing an application,” added Mr Mayne.
