Preparation for the scheme has already begun through a series of roadshows held throughout NI by DAERA over the past number of weeks, however the scheme required business case approval from the Department of Finance to proceed.

It now appears that the business case for the £100m scheme has been approved with DAERA confirming on Tuesday that EFS will open for applications on 27 February.

This scheme differs from previous agri-environment schemes in NI in that it is not area based with payments given for capital costs and income foregone from specific actions that will deliver environmental benefit.

Online

Another difference is that 100% of applications will be online. The department has said that DAERA direct offices can be used for applicants if broadband access is limited.

A form was published on the DAERA website on Monday for applicants to nominate an authorised person to carry out an application on their behalf.

The department has also said that one-to-one appointments can be organised with EFS advisers in DAERA direct offices to help applicants through the online process.

Levels

The new agri-environment scheme will be delivered across three levels. The wider level of the scheme will be available for all farmers and the higher level will be for farmers in environmentally designated areas.

There is also a third element for groups of farmers working together in an area, however DAERA has said that this will only be for a small number of pilot projects in the first tranche.

DAERA has previously said that 2,000 wider-level agreements are anticipated to begin in the first tranche on 1 July 2017 with 300 higher-level agreements starting on 1 January 2018. Overall, it is projected that there will be 6,200 individual EFS agreements on the higher and wider levels across tranches.

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