New Land Eligibility Rules for 2026 Farm Sustainability Payment; Supporting Nature, Climate and Sustainability
Date published:
Revised land eligibility rules have been introduced from 01 January 2026 for the new Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme.
The new rules have been designed to help farmers play a leading role in supporting nature, tackling climate change and advancing sustainability. These changes are part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme’s commitment to a greener, more resilient agri-food sector.
The new rules are easier to understand with all agricultural land eligible except for hard features (e.g. buildings, yards, laneways etc.). Rush, scrub, bracken and some other soft vegetative features are now eligible due to their environmental benefits including mitigating climate change, soil and water quality issues and helping biodiversity.
Land eligible for Farm Sustainability Payment are land parcels currently mapped in DAERA’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) which are at least 0.1 ha in size and have a DAERA recognised boundary.
Eligible land includes:
- soft features (rush, scrub, bracken, blanket bog, lowland raised bog, etc);
- discrete areas of woodland which are less than 5ha;
- areas with up to and including 70% stones, scree, rock or scattered rock; and
- woodland that is or has been part of a forestry or agri-environment scheme administered by the Department on or after 1 January 2009.
Land uses and features that are NOT eligible include:
- Hard features;
- Discrete areas of woodland 5ha or more;
- Part of a woodland parcel which is less than 5 hectares and is contained in a woodland block; and
- State-owned woodland or woodland on state-owned land.
- Land within the curtilage of an airstrip or airport.
- Land used for solar panels.
- Public gardens and parks.
To be prepared for these changes and to ensure land is eligible for Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme in 2026, farmers should visit the DAERA website for complete details on the new land eligibility rules. Understanding these new land eligibility rules will help farmers claim Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme confidently and contribute to a more sustainable future for farming.
Farm businesses are reminded that they must be actively farming and undertaking agricultural activity to be eligible to apply for Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme and must also have management control of the land used to activate entitlements. In addition, if a business submits a claim for 5 hectares or more it must carry out agricultural activity on at least 3 hectares of land used to activate entitlements.
However, where a claim of less than 5 hectares is submitted, the business must carry out agricultural activity on at least 2 hectares of land used to activate entitlements.
Notes to editors:
- The aim of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme is to create a more sustainable farming sector. It seeks to implement policies and strategies that protect our climate and environment, whilst supporting the agri-food sector, which is economically and socially important.
- DAERA has worked extensively with stakeholders, through the Agricultural Policy Stakeholder Group, in the design of the programme.
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