Minister Muir unveils ‘Farming with Nature’ scheme to enhance sustainability in NI agriculture

DAERA Minister Muir is pictured at the Sustainable Agriculture Programme stand at the Balmoral Show to announce his intention to roll out the first phase of the Farming with Nature Package.

Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has today announced the first phase of a major new initiative to support environmentally sustainable farming.

Speaking at the Balmoral Show, Minister Andrew Muir revealed plans to roll out the Farming with Nature (FwN) Package, a phased programme designed to help farmers across all land types deliver substantial environmental improvements.

The initial phase, known as the FwN Transition Scheme, is expected to launch in June 2025, subject to legislation. The scheme will focus on supporting farm-level actions that contribute to improved biodiversity, water quality, and carbon sequestration.

“The Farming with Nature Package is one of the key priorities within my Department’s Sustainable Agriculture Programme and I am delighted to start the roll out of the Package, starting with the FwN Transition Scheme in June 2025,” said Minister Muir.

Highlighting the Government’s ambition to integrate environmental stewardship into mainstream agricultural practice, Minister Muir added:

“My ambition for the FwN Package is to scale up nature friendly farming. I want to see farmers being rewarded for delivering environmental public goods, alongside food production, with the FwN Package becoming a strong and attractive enterprise on farms. It will be introduced in phases to support farmers to turn the tide on biodiversity loss by increasing the quantity, quality and connectivity of habitats in the farmed landscape.”

Five Key Environmental Actions in Year One

In its first year, the FwN Transition Scheme will offer five actionable measures for farmers, supported by a range of implementation items:

• Planting new hedgerow

• Creation of riparian buffer strips

• Farmland tree planting

• Retention of winter stubble

• Multi-species winter cover crops

These targeted actions are designed to increase habitats, protect watercourses, and strengthen carbon capture on agricultural land throughout Northern Ireland.

A Long-Term Vision for Sustainable Land Management

The FwN Transition Scheme is set to be the first step in a broader programme. An expanded scheme is anticipated for 2026, and farmers who participate in the initial year will not be excluded from reapplying.

Beyond the Transition Scheme, DAERA is currently developing the FwN Landscape Projects, which will support groups of farmers to deliver landscape-scale environmental improvements.

Further phases will focus on actions in priority habitats and protected areas, building a comprehensive approach to environmental land management.

Developed in Partnership with Stakeholders

The FwN Package is being shaped through close engagement with agricultural and environmental stakeholders. A dedicated forum, established in June 2024, brings together voices from across the sector to inform and guide the initiative.

The scheme is part of the wider Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP), which aims to steer Northern Ireland’s farming sector toward greater environmental and economic resilience. The SAP—formerly the Farm Support and Development Programme—is co-designed with key industry and environmental partners.

Funding and Support

The overall SAP is supported by the NI Executive’s earmarked Agriculture Budget, totalling £329.4 million for 2025/26. The FwN Transition Scheme itself will draw from DAERA Capital funds, ensuring robust support for the implementation of the first phase.

As Northern Ireland faces increasing pressure to meet climate and biodiversity targets, the FwN Package marks a significant step toward aligning farming with environmental priorities.