Back in 2008, former agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew set a target to have 18,000 participants and 50% of agricultural land in NI under agri-environment agreements by 2013.

At the time, there were around 13,000 participants in agri-environment schemes, covering over 40% of the land area. The schemes (countryside management and environmentally sensitive area) were not perfect, and perhaps some of the environmental outcomes were questionable, but it got everyone thinking about how productive farming and the environment can interact together.

Since then, the amount of land managed under agri-environment has fallen every year, and as reported a couple of weeks ago, is down to just 46,438 ha, or less than 5% of the land area in NI.

Fundamentally, it comes back to the issue of EU rules which advise that rates of payment only cover additional costs incurred and income foregone

That drop can be partly explained by the fact that the current wider level Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS), unlike its predecessors, is not a whole-farm scheme. But at the same time, there is an apathy among farmers towards EFS that should be of concern.

That was not helped by the delay in getting EFS off the ground, with the initial target to launch in mid-2015, but the first application window not until early 2017. However, in monetary terms, EFS is much less attractive than previous schemes, and a significant number of farmers either decided not to apply, or didn’t take up agreements.

Outside the EU, there is the potential to do something different

Fundamentally, it comes back to the issue of EU rules which advise that rates of payment only cover additional costs incurred and income foregone. It is a principle that might keep costs down, but will not drive large uptake of a scheme.

Outside the EU, there is the potential to do something different. But to inform the future, we must learn from the past, and that requires an independent review of EFS. It is also vital that in any future scheme, farmers are on-board, and involved throughout the development phase.

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Agri environment scheme area down by 30%

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