Green light for Tranche 3 and 4 of Environmental Farming Scheme

PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST
18/2/2020
Edwin Poots, Minister for Agriculture, environment and rural affairs, photographed in his office at Stormont Buildings today.
Photo Laura Davison/Pacemaker Press — PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 18/2/2020 Edwin Poots, Minister for Agriculture, environment and rural affairs, photographed in his office at Stormont Buildings today. Photo Laura Davison/Pacemaker Press

DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA, has announced that the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) Tranches 3 and 4, will now proceed, providing much needed clarity for the farming sector.

Successful applicants will now be issued with their agreements for Tranche 3 and applications for Tranche 4 will be invited later in the year. The move comes after EFS was delayed and reviewed to ensure value for money and that it delivers on its core environmental goals. The refreshed Tranches contain some amendments in order to assure the Department that the scheme continues to meet the objectives set out in the original business case.

Minister Poots said: “I am very pleased to provide clarity to almost 3,000 farmers who applied for Tranche 3 of the scheme. I have now agreed to proceed with Tranche 3 and given the green light to open Tranche 4 for applications later in the year.

“Several amendments to both Tranche 3 and 4 have been made to ensure that the scheme continues to provide value for money. While I appreciate that this may be disappointing for some, the approval of the revised scheme is welcome news and enables EFS to provide continued support for the farming sector to play its part in protecting our environment.”

Amendments to the EFS include:

The Watercourse Stabilisation with Fencing’ (WSF) option within Tranche 3 will be offered at a reduced grant rate of 80% (£4.80 per metre).

The standard cost for ‘Drinking Trough Pipework’ has been reviewed and revised to £3.91/m.

The WSF option will not be available in Tranche 4. However, the other options for the protection of watercourses – the 2m and 10m riparian buffer strips, both ungrazed or planted with trees, will be available in Tranche 4.

Concluding, the Minister said: “I would like to thank applicants for their patience with the application process and assure you that I remain encouraged by the continued strong interest in EFS and protecting the environment.

“EFS plays an important role in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and water quality, and in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration.”

Due to the delay in issuing agreements, the Minister announced that Tranche 3 participants will have additional time to complete their Year 1 agreement works up to 31 December 2020, with the exception of arable options.

Applicants are encouraged to log on to DAERA Online Services to view and accept their agreement as soon as possible, and before the deadline of 27 March 2020.

The fourth Tranche of both EFS Levels is planned later in 2020, with Higher Level re-opening for applications in April and Wider Level re-opening mid-summer.