Minister Muir announces the start of Year 1 payments under the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme for Northern Ireland

The first set of payments under the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme (FwNT) have started to issue, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir confirmed today.

Farm businesses who qualify under the scheme have started to receive payments for work completed by the end of March 2026.

A total of 489 participants will receive funding through the scheme, with a total of £2.7million released today, aiming to support biodiversity on farms by funding a range of environmental actions.

Welcoming the first set of payments, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: I am delighted to see the first payments issuing to farm businesses under the Sustainable Agriculture Programme's Farming with Nature Package.  The Farming with Nature Scheme is critical to help arrest and reverse the declines in farmland nature, whilst delivering a range of important environmental public goods such as improvement in water quality and carbon sequestration, alongside food production." 

In its first year, Farming with Nature supported farmers to enhance biodiversity, protect watercourses and increase carbon storage by planting over 134 km of hedgerows and 28 acres of trees, creating more than 35 km of riparian buffers, establishing 670 ha of multi-species winter cover crop and retaining just over 836 ha of winter stubble across farmland.

Year 2 of the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme will open from 30 June to 31 July 2026, building on Year 1 with enhanced flexibility, greater choice, and new actions shaped by stakeholder feedback. Further details will be announced in due course.

Minister Muir added: "The success of the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme in its first year is just the beginning.  As the Scheme opens for Year 2, I look forward to seeing it continue to grow in both participation and the range of farmland options offered in order to maximise the positive environmental impact."

The Minister and the Department continue to develop further strands of the Farming with Nature Package for 2026/27 in close and constructive engagement with agricultural, environmental and wider rural sector stakeholders. Further information about the Sustainable Agriculture Programme and the schemes within the FwN Package is available on the Department's website: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/sustainable-agriculture-programme and www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/farming-nature-package.

Notes to editors:

1. DAERA's Sustainable Agriculture Programme has been developed in consultation with a range of food, agriculture, environmental and veterinary stakeholders across the SAP from its commencement.
2. Should farm businesses require further information they should email: FarmingwithNature@daera-ni.gov.uk or call the Grants and Funding helpline on 0300 200 7848 or e-mail: FarmingwithNature@daera-ni.gov.uk.
3. An Agent or trusted person can be nominated by farmers to complete the application on their behalf. Agent Nomination can be completed online at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/daera-customer-portal.
4. All communications related to this scheme after application will be issued electronically.  As DAERA continues to expand its digital communication approach across Agricultural and Environmental Schemes Division, farmers are reminded to regularly check their e-mail inbox (including junk folders) for important updates and notifications.
5. Notifications regarding applications and payments will issue by DAERA messaging only.  To receive notifications by e-mail and view payment details online, farm businesses, must register for a DAERA online account via Northern Ireland Identity Assurance (NIDA) or Government Gateway for a DAERA online account, even if they work with an agent.