Almost £240m in Farm Sustainability Payments was issued to NI farmers on Tuesday, DAERA has confirmed.

“The fact that 97% of eligible applicants received payment on the first day reflects our commitment to delivering support effectively,” said Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir.

The Farm Sustainability Payment is the main follow on to the Basic Payment Scheme in NI.

As part of the revised scheme, new conditions are being added including a requirement to take part in the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme by May 2027 and the Bovine Genetics Project by May 2028.

Despite recent opposition from the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), Minister Muir indicated that he still wants carbon audits to become another condition for receiving payments.

“It is my intention that participation in the Carbon Footprinting Project will also become a conditionality, subject to Assembly approval,” he said on Tuesday.

FwN

Meanwhile, it is understood that scheme agreements under the second year of Farming with Nature (FwN) are being issued to successful applicants at present.

DAERA has reminded applicants to keep checking emails for updates, including junk and spam folders.

Following a meeting with local cereal growers, the UFU has again highlighted concerns that significant areas of productive arable land in NI has been deemed ineligible for FwN due to mapping constraints.

“Farmers are asking legitimate questions about why land that was previously eligible under environmental schemes is now being treated differently. They want clarity and certainty around the rules and how these decisions have been reached”, said UFU deputy president Clement Lynch.

The union has also sought clarification from DAERA around the future for the Protein Aid Scheme in NI beyond 2026.