Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, has urged farmers across Northern Ireland to apply for Year 2 of the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme.

The scheme is set to open for applications from tomorrow (Tuesday, June 30) until July 31, 2026.

The Farming with Nature Transition Scheme forms part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP).

Nature

Minister Muir said that it is among his key priorities to support farmers to deliver an environmentally sustainable, resilient and thriving farming sector.

"The Farming with Nature Transition Scheme helps farmers take practical, on farm action that delivers environmental and wider societal benefits, while supporting a productive and sustainable farming system.

"I encourage all eligible farmers to apply to Farming with Nature.

"This year offers an expanded range of actions suitable for all farm enterprises, including three new options that provide additional support to our vital arable sector," he said.

According to DAERA, the key changes for Year 2 of the scheme include:

Eligibility extended to include active Environmental Farming Scheme agreement holders;
Introduction of eight additional actions, including three new arable field margins, two herbal leys and three management actions for hedgerows, trees and 7m riparian buffer strips established under Year 1;
Farm businesses can apply for up to £20,000 to undertake environmental actions this year, and there is no minimum application value.

The department said these enhancements are "designed to make the scheme more accessible, practical and beneficial for businesses while continuing to deliver strong environmental outcomes".

Applications

In order to apply, farm businesses must have a DAERA category 1 or 2 business identification number.Farm businesses that applied in Year 1 are encouraged to apply again in Year 2.

Businesses that were approved for actions in Year 1 but did not complete them may reapply for those actions, alongside any additional actions available in Year 2, provided no payment claim was submitted for the unfinished work.Approval notifications for the Farming with Nature Scheme will issue via DAERA Message so applicants should check their email regularly, including junk mail.

Work on Year 2 actions must not begin until an approval notification has been received.

Applications for the scheme can be made online through the DAERA website which also contains full guidance, including eligibility criteria and how to videos.

The online application service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Farming with Nature Advisory Team can be contacted for assistance in completing applications on 0300 200 7848 (Monday to Friday 9:00a.m – 5:00p.m).