Agricultural & Environmental Scheme Details
Here you will find useful information, Guides, Q&As and Forms for Agricultural & Environmental Schemes that are currently available from DAERA. They are listed below;
These pages are being continuously updated so please check back regularly for new information. Some links will be updated in the coming days.
Farm Sustainability Payment (FSP)
FSP is the largest Agricultural & Environmental Scheme available in Northern Ireland, and was introduced in 2026. Farmers wishing to apply for FSP must:
- submit an online Single Application; and
- be actively farming at least 3 hectares of land; and
- hold an equivalent number of ‘Payment Entitlements’.
The link to video below provides easy to follow steps on how to complete your FSP application:
Farm Sustainability Payment How to Apply Video
More information on Entitlements can be found here: Entitlements and Transfers 2026 -
The Guide to Transfer of Entitlements will be available when the Entitlements Transfer Service opens
Financial Ceiling - to be confirmed for 2026.
Guides and Forms
Some useful information on FSP, with common Q&As and the relevant amendments form.
Protein Crop Scheme
In 2021, DAERA introduced a farm payment for particular nitrogen fixing crops, (referred to as Protein Crops). The Protein Crops Scheme (PCS) is an additional payment to farmers for growing beans, peas and sweet lupins. Farmers do not have to claim Farm Sustainability Transition Payment in order to be eligible for PCS, however land used to grow protein crops may be claimed for both FSTP and PCS. Dual use claims are not permitted, i.e. both schemes cannot be claimed on the same field parcel by different farmers.
Protein crops are defined as:
- Spring Peas
- Spring Field Beans
- Winter Field Beans
- Spring Sweet Lupins
- Winter Sweet Lupins
The forage crops clover, alfalfa and lucerne are not eligible for aid under this pilot scheme.
More information can be found in the Guidance below.
Guides and Forms
Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS)
The Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) offers participants a 5-year agreement to deliver a range of environmental measures and has three levels:
- Higher Level - primarily for environmentally designated sites and other priority habitats
- Wider Level - to deliver benefits across the countryside, outside of environmentally designated areas. EFS Wider is no longer available for new applicants.
- Group Level - to support co-operative action by farmers in specific areas such as a river catchment
The Scheme objectives are to restore, preserve and enhance biodiversity, improve water quality and mitigate against climate change. EFS applications which deliver the most environmental benefit for these objectives will receive priority entry into the scheme.
Guides and Forms
The following documents will be available soon
Further Information and guidance on EFS can be found at:
Young Farmers' Payment (YFP)
2025 was the final year for new applications to the Young Farmers’ Payment.
Successful applicants to the Young Farmers’ Payment in 2025 will receive their top-up payment for five years.
YFP provides an annual top-up to the FSP for those applicants who meet the YFP eligibility / evidence criteria. “Young farmers” are defined as:
- Natural persons who have already set up an agricultural holding as Head of Holding, during the four years preceding an application for FSP.
- Head of Holding means the applicant must be exercising effective and long-term control over the business in terms of decisions related to management, benefits and financial risks.
- Legal persons may be granted access to the scheme if they meet similar conditions.
Forestry Grants
The Annual Premia for Forestry schemes listed below can all be claimed using the Single Application:
- Small Woodland Grant Scheme (SWGS)
- Forest Expansion Scheme Annual Premia (FESAP)
- Farm Woodland Scheme (FWAS)
- Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWAP)
Further information on Forestry grant schemes can be found at DAERA Forestry Grants.
Farming with Nature Package
The Farming with Nature Package is the replacement for the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) and aims to support Northern Ireland farmers and land managers across all land types to make substantial contributions to environmental improvements and sustainability. The Package hopes to reverse the trends in nature decline through retaining, maintaining, restoring and creating habitats that are important for species diversity and improved connectivity between habitat areas.
Farming with Nature Transition (FwNT) Scheme
The Farming with Nature Transition Scheme aims to increase the extent of habitats on farmed land across Northern Ireland. The actions available will create new habitats, provide new green infrastructure, protect watercourses and contribute to carbon sequestration on farms.
Farming with Nature Package will be delivered using a phased approach starting with a Farming with Nature Transition Scheme (FwNT) that can incentivise a range of actions with proven valuable environmental impact.
Further information on Farming with Nature Transition Scheme can be found at Farming with Nature Transition Scheme.
Beef Sustainability Package
The Beef Sustainability Package aims to help ensure the future viability of the beef sector. It comprises two measures, which together seek to improve productivity and reduce emissions from older non-breeding animals:
Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme
Suckler Cow Scheme
Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme
The BCR is a new payment scheme for beef farmers in Northern Ireland. The Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme opened on 1 January 2024. The BCR Scheme works on scheme years, with one payment per scheme year:
- Each scheme year will run from 1 January to 31 December.
- Year 2 commenced on 1 January 2025
To receive BCRS payments, your business must opt-in to the scheme online.
You only need to opt-in once from 2024. If you have opted in you will receive a payment every year from that date and do not need to opt-in each scheme year. However, you will only be eligible for payment from the scheme year in which you opt-in.
Further information on Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme can be found at Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme.
Suckler Cow (SC) Scheme
The Scheme is a payment support scheme for beef farmers in Northern Ireland and forms part of the Beef Sustainability Package within the Sustainable Agriculture Programme. The Scheme commenced on 1 April 2025 and each Scheme year will run from 1 April to 31 March each year.
To be eligible for the Suckler Cow Scheme, farm businesses must have claimed and be eligible for the Farm Sustainability Transition Payment in 2025 and the Farm Sustainability Payment from 2026 onwards.
Further information on Suckler Cow Scheme can be found at Suckler Cow Scheme.