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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) general information and guidance

    Topics:
    • Grants and Funding, 
    • Rural Development, 
    • Countryside Management and Managing your Business, 
    • Biodiversity, 
    • Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS)

    This page provides general information and guidance for the Environmental Farming Scheme.

    Guide to the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS)

    This booklet sets out the general rules of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) and how it will be administered and controlled to ensure that requirements have been met.

    • Guide to the Environmental Farming Scheme for agreements commencing 2017 to 2019
    • Guide to the Environmental Farming Scheme for Agreements commencing Jan 2020 and Jan 2021
    • Guide to the Environmental Farming Scheme for Agreements commencing 01 Jan 2022
    • Environmental Farming Scheme Q&A for Agreements commencing Jan 2020 and Jan 2021
    • Environmental Farming Scheme Q&A for Agreements commencing Jan 2022
    • Claiming for EFS arable options - rotational option
    • Environmental Farming Scheme Questions and Answers for Agreements Commencing 1st January 2023
    • Guide to Environmental Farming Scheme for Agreements Commencing 1st January 2023
    • Guide to Environmental Farming Scheme for Agreements Commencing 1st January 2024
    • Guide to the Environmental Farming Scheme for Agreements commencing 01 January 2025
    • Environmental Farming Scheme Questions and Answers for Agreements commencing Jan 2025

    Online training for EFS Agreements that started in 2023 now available.

    For guidance about how to complete your training please follow the link below:

    • Online EFS training

    Please see below video of EFS Instructions

     

    List of approved organic bodies

    This list gives details of the approved UK Organic Control Bodies as of January 2017

    • Approved UK Organic Control Bodies

    Further information

    European Union Funding and State Aid

    The Environmental Farming Scheme is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

    Aid for the establishment of native woodland of less than 5 hectares and aid for agro-forestry Systems are subject to European Commission State Aid rules and all applications will be assessed for compliance with Articles 32 and 33 of Commission Regulation (EU) 702/2014 [Official Journal of the European Union L 193/1 – 75, 1 July 2014].

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    • Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) - Higher Level
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    • Environmental Farming Scheme Training Videos (Higher NPIs)
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    • Previous years Area-based Schemes
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    • Sustainable Agriculture Programme: Co Design with Stakeholders
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