Farmers were this week given the clearest indication yet of how and when the new support payments will be made by DAERA as a replacement for the current Basic Payment Scheme.

A timeline for the new Farm Support and Development programme, which aims to support farming and enhance environmental sustainability in Northern Ireland, was announced by Norman Fulton, Director of Food & Farming in DAERA and George Moffett, DAERA’s Deputy Director of Agricultural Policy Division. There will be no changes to the Basic Payment Scheme this year or next year, 2024.

DAERA says the programme will meet the unique needs and challenges of the agricultural industry and is focussed on meeting the four desired outcomes of increased productivity; improved resilience; environmental sustainability; and an effective functioning supply chain. The Schemes and Measures to be introduced will provide levers to contribute to statutory obligations under the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022, with a firm focus on just transition.

Announcing a timeline for the introduction of the new programme of Farm Support and Development, Norman Fulton, DAERA’s Head of Food and Farming Group, explained that the new programme had been co-designed by the agricultural industry and other key stakeholders across the food, farming and environment sectors.

“For the first time in a generation we will have a tailor-made programme of support, bespoke for our agricultural industry in Northern Ireland. Today we have announced the road map to delivering this – highlighting the timeline for when the different elements will roll out.

“This new programme will tackle crucial issues such as farm sustainability, farming with nature, reducing livestock emissions and meeting our obligations under the Climate Change (NI) Act 2022.”

He reassured farmers that this year’s payments remained unchanged and that today’s announcement was to provide a timeline for the new Farm Support and Development programme.

“There will be no change to the application process for the Basic Payment Scheme in 2023 and 2024. The new schemes and measures will be phased in over a number of years and at this point farmers do not need to take any action other than familiarise themselves with the announcement. This is just the start of a communications process and further information will be published as schemes are ready to roll out,” he explained.

The timeline for the introduction of support measures, subject to legislative and business case cover is as follows:

* Ruminant Genetics - Initiation of the Ruminant Genetics Programme in June 2023 with the launch of the tendering process for a supplier.

* Livestock Dietary Emissions Challenge Fund -First tranche of a Livestock Dietary Emissions Challenge Fund to launch in Autumn 2023.

* Farming for Carbon Benchmarking - A carbon benchmarking programme for Northern Ireland to commence in Autumn 2023.

* Farming for the Generations - A Farming for the Generations Pilot Programme to launch in Autumn 2023.

* Knowledge and Innovation - A new suite of Knowledge Transfer and Innovation programmes to commence in Spring 2024.

* Farming with Nature Pilots - Farming with Nature Test and Learn Pilots to launch in late 2023 and throughout 2024.

* Beef Sustainability Package – Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme. A Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme will open in early 2024.

* Horticulture - The Horticulture Sector Growth Support Schemes will aim to commence in spring 2024.

* Farm Sustainability Measure - The current Basic Payment Scheme will continue to operate in 2024 with existing land eligibility and cross compliance conditions. A Farm Sustainability Transition Payment with some new conditionalities will be introduced in 2025. The full Farm Sustainability Payment will go live in 2026.

* Capital Investment Measure - It is planned that the Capital Investment Measure will be available from late 2024.

* Beef Sustainability Package – Suckler Cow Measure. The Suckler Cow Scheme will open in early 2025.

* Supply Chain Measure - Supply Chain Support Scheme will be provided from mid-2025.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union welcomed clarity around the direction of travel within the new Farm Support and Development programme with UFU president David Brown commenting; “The new programme of Farm Support and Development aims to deliver benefits for land, livestock, infrastructure and communities through a range of new schemes and measures.

“DAERA stated that there will be no change to the application process for the Basic Payment Scheme in 2023 and 2024. It is now critical that going forward, DAERA effectively communicates with farmers.”