More than 1,700 farm businesses applied to the second year of Northern Ireland's Farming with Nature Transition Scheme, an increase of 94% on the previous round. The applications seek £12.37 million for practical environmental measures carried out alongside food production.
The programme offered 14 actions and a maximum of £20,000 for each eligible farm. Proposed work across the applications includes 535 kilometres of hedgerow, 207 kilometres of watercourse buffer strips, 69 hectares of tree planting and 758 hectares of herbal leys.
A further 5,366 hectares was proposed for arable measures, contributing to more than 10,000 individual actions in total. Applications now need to be assessed against the scheme rules and available budget, so the amount requested is not the same as final expenditure.
The transition scheme forms part of the wider Sustainable Agriculture Programme. It is designed to establish a route towards longer-term nature-friendly support while allowing farmers to choose measures suited to their land, business and existing management.
Independent environmental oversight has continued to stress the importance of measurable delivery, advice and long-term participation in Northern Ireland's agricultural transition. The sharp rise in applications shows strong interest; later reporting will need to establish how much work is approved, completed and maintained.