Roll out of a Key Element of the Department of Agriculture,
Environment and Rural Affairs Flagship Sustainable Agriculture
Programme Will Now Proceed After the Ni Assembly Supported
Regulations Enabling the Introduction of the New Farm
Sustainability Payment.
Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme Eligibility Etc) Regulations
Northern Ireland) 2025 Will Provide Daera with the Legal Powers
to Introduce the Farm Sustainability Payment Fsp) from 1 January
2026.
Thanking Assembly Members and the Committee for Agriculture,
Environment and Rural Affairs for Their Input, Daera Minister
Said: The Regulations
Passed by the Assembly Are a Major and Positive Development for
Farming in Northern Ireland Supporting a Thriving, Resilient and
Environmentally Sustainable Future for Farming with the New Farm
Sustainability Payment to Now Open, As Planned, on 2 March
2026.
This Will Help Deliver the Sustainable Agriculture
Programme Which Contains a Suite of Packages and Is Supported
from Wider Dedicated Funding of £332.Million per Annum for
Agriculture, Agri-environment, Fisheries and Rural
Development."
Northern Ireland Is the Only Part of the Uk Where Earmarking of
This Funding Was Secured for This and Future Years Following
Removal of Ring-fencing by Uk Government at the End of the Last
Financial Year.
The Phased Introduction of Proportionate and Pragmatic
Conditionalities Associated with the Farm Sustainability Payment
Will Also Help Enable a Wide Range of Ground-breaking and
Positive Interventions Such As the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme
and the Bovine Genetics Project.
The Bovine Genetics Project Is of Significant Interest to
Industry and Government Due to the Benefits of Breeding Animals
with Improved Health and Welfare, Enhanced Production and
Efficiency, a Lower Carbon Footprint and Lower Pollution
Potential.
New Land Eligibility Rules Are Also to Be Introduced Which Are
Both Simpler and Help to Better Protect Our Environment, Bringing
into Eligibility Areas Previously Deemed Ineligible.
Minimum Claim Size for the Farm Sustainability Payment Remains at
Three Hectares Following Consultation with the Agriculture,
Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and Stakeholders.
The Fsp Will Replace the Current Farm Sustainability Transition
Payment and Aims to Balance Support with Encouraging Farm
Businesses to Manage Risks While Building a More Environmentally
Sustainable, Efficient and Resilient Business.
The Introduction of Fsp Will Also Result in the Rollout of the
Following Changes:
- The Implementation of the Historic Years Exercise
- The Progressive Capping of Payments;
- New Land Eligibility Rules;
- New Farm Sustainability Standards to Replace Cross Compliance
Subject to Legislation), and
- The Introduction of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme and the
Bovine Genetics Project Conditionalities.
Further Information Is Available on the Daera
Website: Www.Daera-ni.Gov.Uk/articles/sap-new-schemes-and-measures-payment-schemes#toc-0
Notes to Editors:
- The Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme Eligibility Etc)
Regulations Ni) 2025 Are an Important Step in the Roll out of the
Sustainable Agriculture Programme.
- The Overall Aim of the Programme Is to Transition to a More
Sustainable Farming Sector by Seeking to Implement Policies and
Strategies That Benefit Our Climate and Environment While,
Supporting Our Economically and Socially Significant Agri-food
Sector. Daera Has Worked Extensively with Stakeholders, Through
the Agricultural Policy Stakeholder Group in the Design of the
Programme.
