A new scheme to follow on from the higher level of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) is to open for applications this month.

In a written briefing to Stormont’s agriculture committee, DAERA confirmed that the new scheme for environmentally designated land will open “in June 2026”.

The first phase of the new Farming With Nature (FWN) higher scheme will only open to farmers who were in tranche four of EFS higher level, as these scheme agreements expired at the end of 2025.

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Reading the DAERA statement, committee chair Robbie Butler said FWN higher level is “an interim scheme” which is being rolled out while a new FWN priority habitat scheme is developed.

While EFS higher level agreements ran for five years, the new FWN agreements will be one year in duration and will be renewed on an annual basis.

Interim scheme

Farmers who are part of each tranche of EFS higher level will be invited to join the interim scheme as their existing agreements expire.

Butler said the aim was “to ensure there is no gap in environmental management of land currently under agreement”.

“The scheme will include provisions for updated payment rates and the estimated total cost from 2026/27 through to 2030/31 is £28.7m,” he said.