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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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  • panorama aerial view of sunny winter countryside in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

    Area-based Schemes 2025

    Topics:
    • Grants and Funding, 
    • Area-based Schemes
    The Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs offers several payments to farm businesses based on the land that they farm, or actions they take on their land. These payments are called ‘Area-based Schemes’ (ABS). Further information on these schemes is available on the following pages including Registering for Government Gateway or NIDA account, How to Apply for Schemes, New & Future Schemes, Entitlements and Transfers, Cross Compliance, Review of Decisions and Other Useful Information. Below are the Key dates and Information that may be of interest to any Farm businesses, authorised Agents of Farm Businesses or anyone involved in Area-based Schemes.
    Key in Calendar Page

    2025 Key Dates

    • Start your FSTP application early and submit it by 15 May to avoid any reduction or delay to your payment.
    • 03 March to 15 May 2025 - Single Application & Map Service.
    • 03 April to 15 May 2025 - Entitlement Transfer Service.

     

    Entitlement Leasing agreements approved during 2025 will be limited to one year.
    2025 will be the final year that Young Farmers and New Entrants can obtain Entitlements from the Regional Reserve.
    2025 will be the final year for new applications to the Young Farmers' Payment.

    The Single Application is now closed. If you have any queries about your Single Application, you can contact our Advisory team on 0300 200 7848 from 9am – 5pm (Monday to Friday).

    Environmental Farming Scheme payments cannot be claimed on your Single Application until early April 2025. Please contact us for further information.

    Single Applications can be submitted up to 9 June. However, Single Applications received between 16 May and 9 June will be penalised by 1% per day. Applications for Regional Reserve received between 16 May and 9 June will be penalised by 4% per day. Penalties are for each working day the application is late.

    If you submit your Single Application by the 15 May you can add or remove land up to 31 May without penalty.

    Any increases in land notified between 1 June and 9 June will be subject to a penalty.

    REMEMBER – A separate additional application is required for Young Farmers’ Payment / Regional Reserve, Small Woodland Grant Scheme, or Environmental Farming Scheme if it is your first time applying for these schemes. Check our website for further information

    You must also opt-in separately for the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme if you have not previously done so. You only have to opt-in once for the scheme. This can be done via the DAERA website How do I opt-in for BCR? | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

    More in this topic

    • New & Future Schemes
    • Area-based Schemes - Current Scheme Details
    • Registering for Government Gateway (GG) and NIDA accounts
    • How to Apply
    • Single Application and Maps How To Videos
    • Entitlements and Transfers 2025
    • Review of Decisions 2025
    • Cross Compliance 2025
    • Other Useful Information
    • Previous years Area-based Schemes
    • Business Changes
    • Suckler Cow Scheme
    • Beef Sustainability Package
    • Am I eligible for SC Scheme
    • Eligible Beef breeds
    • What to do if you are not happy with our decision
    • SC Scheme Payments
    • How do I opt in for the SC Scheme?
    • Checks that we will carry out if you opt in for the SC Scheme
    • What is the Suckler Cow (SC) Scheme?
    • SC Scheme How To Videos
    • Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme
    • What is the Beef Carbon Reduction (BCR) Scheme

    Related to Area-based Schemes 2025

    Most recent publications

    • FB1 Form

      Published 12 March 2025
    • Q&A Force Majeure 2025

      Published 26 February 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Minister Muir announces opening of the Suckler Cow Scheme from 1 April 2025

      Published 26 March 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs including Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

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