SAP Support Programmes
Support Schemes will provide information and knowledge that will be essential in supporting changes to on-farm management practices needed to address the changes required now and in the future.
Farming for Sustainability - Knowledge
What is it?
Farming for Sustainability – Knowledge offers support to all farm businesses through information, training, and peer to peer learning groups. Training will be linked to SAP Schemes such as the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme, the Beef Sustainability Package, the Bovine Genetics Project and the Carbon Footprinting Project.
Supporting Agri-Professionals Programme
The Supporting Agri-Professionals Programme launched in January 2025. This programme focuses on the professional development of industry advisers and consultants who provide farm businesses with technical advice and support, significantly widening the reach of knowledge transfer across Northern Ireland.
Business Sustainability Groups (BSGs)
Over 1,440 farm businesses are now enrolled on Business Sustainability Groups, representing a range of sectors. The delivery programme for BSGs focuses on meeting new environmental regulations, for example, ammonia, phosphorus, water quality and carbon reduction along with a strong focus on economic sustainability. CAFRE advisers facilitate the sharing of knowledge and data between group members to help them put new ideas into practice on their own farms.
Themed Groups
Specialised Themed Groups will deliver knowledge on particular topics such as water quality, beef finishing or suckler cow fertility. The duration of the groups will be tailored to the needs of the group and the topic.
A Themed Group focusing on suckler cow fertility linked to the Suckler Cow Scheme, launched on 18 June 2025. This short-term initiative (up to two years) will help farmers enhance herd fertility. A beef finishing themed group was launched on 19 January 2026. This initiative is designed to help farmers in meeting the targets of the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme.
Farmers will be supported in these groups through knowledge sharing, mentoring, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
What does this mean for me?
Farming for Sustainability - Knowledge Transfer can help you to develop your farm business to achieve improved environmental sustainability, enhanced productivity and stronger resilience.
What do I need to do now?
For further information on the Supporting Agri Professionals Programme and to register interest please follow the link below:
Supporting Agri Professionals - CAFRE
To find out more about Business Sustainability Groups visit Business Sustainability Groups (BSGs) - CAFRE or contact your local CAFRE Adviser.
To find out more about Suckler Cow Fertility Themed Groups visit Suckler Cow Fertility Group - CAFRE.
To find out more about Beef Finishing Themed Groups visit BEEF Finishing Groups - CAFRE
Further new Themed Groups will be launched in the coming months. Check the agricultural press, this webpage or social media channels regularly for further details and updates and consider enrolling.
Farming for Sustainability - Innovation
What is it?
A new Innovation Scheme has been developed to facilitate the identification of sustainable innovations and support their implementation. It has three elements:
Innovation Visits – DAERA will take groups of farmers to see innovative practices outside of Northern Ireland and support the implementation of these practices on local farms.
Innovation Farms – Farmers will be able to visit Innovation Farms within Northern Ireland to see how innovative sustainable practices have been successfully implemented.
Innovation Partnerships – Farmers will be able to form operational groups with researchers and/or industry experts to tackle problems or grasp opportunities which are in line with the Sustainable Agriculture Programme objectives.
What does it mean for me?
The first Innovation Visit will take place in early March and applications are currently closed. There will be further Innovation Visits taking place throughout 2026.
Applications are now open for farmers to become the first tranche of Innovation Farm hosts. The aim is to appoint seven dairy and seven beef farms initially. Other sectors will be represented in subsequent tranches. To apply, please visit the CAFRE Website - Innovation Farms | Farm Business Support - CAFRE
It is anticipated that the Innovation Partnerships element will launch later this year. Further information will be provided in due course.
What do I need to do now?
Check the agricultural press, this webpage or social media channels regularly for further details and updates.
Farming for Carbon Schemes
What is it?
Farming for Carbon focuses on actions to reduce carbon emissions on farms and offset carbon emissions through sequestration, which is the process of capturing, securing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in trees, hedges and soils. Reductions in carbon emissions will be encouraged through a number of mitigating actions.
One innovative project currently underway is the UK Dairy Carbon Network project. This project brings together dairy farms and supply chain partners from across the UK to explore and identify practical solutions aimed at reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. This project comprises a UK consortium led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).
What does this mean for me?
The outworkings of this project will provide information to help you reduce your on-farm Greenhouse Gas emissions as well as providing important evidence to inform future schemes under SAP. This work is key to helping meet the targets set out in the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022.
What do I need to do now?
For further information and project updates visit The UK Dairy Carbon Network | AHDB.