NI farmers encouraged to start planning EFS applications

Farmers in Northern Ireland are being encouraged to start thinking ahead if they intend to make an application to the next round of the Wider Level Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS).

The scheme will reopen for applications on 30 August with a closing deadline of 23 September.

The Wider Level EFS is available on land that falls outside an official designation, which means it is open to most farmers in Northern Ireland.

See also: Read the latest from Farmers Weekly on farming grants

It pays farmers to implement environmental measures on their land that will enhance biodiversity and water quality, or help in the climate change battle by sequestering carbon.

Options available include establishing buffers (of various widths) alongside watercourses, hedge laying, establishing new hedges, provision of winter food for wild birds and rebuilding dry stone walls.

The EFS is different to some other agri-environment schemes in that it is designed so that the majority of the works are completed and claimed in the first year of the five-year agreement.

The payment, for example, for establishing a 2m ungrazed riparian buffer is £6.07/m in the first year of the agreement and £0.07/m for years two to five.

However, not all options are like this. A six-metre arable margin of rough grass would be worth £841.50/ha in year one and £707/ha for years two to five.

The application process must be completed online through the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ Online Services, and applicants must also have a current email address they can access. 

Farmers who already have a Government Gateway ID and password to use for the Single Application and Maps Service can use the same log-in details, but those without this will have to apply to register. 

Agreements will start on 1 January 2023 and run for five years to 31 December 2027.