Minister Poots clarifies EFS

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.

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.”

The Minister also announced that Tranche 3 participants will have additional time to complete their Year 1 agreement works up to December 31, 2020, with the exception of arable options. Applicants should log on to DAERA Online Services to view and accept their agreement ASAP, before the deadline of March 27. The fourth Tranche of both EFS Levels is planned later in 2020 (Higher Level re-opening in April and Wider Level mid-summer).

The UFU has said it is pleased that some common sense has prevailed as DAERA Minister Edwin Poots, has decided to retain fencing off watercourses in Tranche 3. However, it is disappointing that the rate of payment has been reduced as this is not what farmers signed up for.

There will also be considerable dissatisfaction that the water stabilisation and fencing measure will not be included in Tranche 4. Understanding that there was going to be several tranches of the scheme, a proportion of farmers have been waiting to apply when their circumstances allowed. This decision means that they will now miss out on this option and watercourses will be left unprotected in some areas, the Union said.

Commenting on DAERA’s decision regarding the EFS, deputy president Victor Chestnutt said: “It was encouraging to see so many farmers take an interest in the EFS and the high number of applicants to date shows that farmers are keen to improve and create habitats on their farms. The momentum was growing and for DAERA to pull back at the end of last year and delay Tranche 3 will make many farmers reconsider if they should enter a future scheme which is not what anyone wants. The delay and change to EFS has left a lot of bad feeling in the industry. While there will be some relief that the scheme is going ahead, farmers will be nervous about trusting DAERA’s capability to deliver schemes in the future.

“The biggest difficulty for farmers involved in the scheme going forward, is that we have now hit the busiest period in the farming calendar. Farmers will have less time to carry out these environmental works but we’re pleased that the majority of deadlines for completion of EFS measures have been extended.”

It is important for farmers to note that they only have a two-week period to accept their agreement. The UFU encourages members to ensure they accurately review their agreement and if satisfied accept as soon as possible.