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More than 1,700 applications were received for the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme before it closed on Friday 31 July, with a combined value of £12.37 million. The figure represents a 94% increase in applications compared with 2025, reflecting growing interest among farmers in taking part in the scheme.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir welcomed the response from the farming community. "I am delighted at the strong response from farmers to the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme. I am particularly pleased to see a significant increase in applications this year, demonstrating the willingness of farm businesses across Northern Ireland to take practical action to support nature while enhancing the sustainability of their farms."
Now in its second year, the scheme forms part of the Department's Sustainable Agriculture Programme and allows farmers to choose from 14 environmental actions best suited to their farm, whether arable, livestock or mixed. Eligible applicants could apply for support of up to £20,000 per farm. Applicants have applied for over 10,000 environmental actions, including 535 km of new hedges, more than 207 km of riparian buffers to protect waterways, 69 hectares of new tree planting, 758 hectares of herbal ley and 5,366 hectares of actions on arable land. Herbal ley is a multispecies grazing mix that improves soil health, reduces the need for fertilisers and promotes biodiversity.
Farm businesses will begin receiving email notification of the outcome of their application in the coming weeks. Applicants have been reminded that scheme actions must not begin until formal approval has been granted. Minister Muir said: "Once approved, I urge successful applicants to move forward with their chosen actions, helping to deliver important environmental gains for biodiversity, water quality and the wider countryside, while strengthening the sustainability and resilience of their farm businesses."
The scheme is targeted at agricultural land outside designated sites and other priority habitat and species areas. By incorporating environmental data into the application system, the Department said risks of unintended impacts on sensitive habitats and species are minimised while ensuring measures are delivered where they can provide the greatest benefit for nature and biodiversity. The underlying environmental data and eligibility criteria will be kept under review as the scheme develops, with refinements made where necessary.
Further strands of the Farming with Nature Package are under development, which will support environmental action on agricultural land within designated sites and other priority habitat and species areas, creating additional opportunities for farm businesses to take part in future years. Further information on the Sustainable Agriculture Programme and the Farming with Nature Package is available on the Department's website at www.daera-ni.gov.uk
