To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of the benefits of changes made to land eligibility under the Farm Sustainability Payment for nature, the environment and farm businesses.

Mr Muir

The land eligibility rules for the farm sustainability payment, which came into effect on 1 January 2026, have been simplified, to the benefit of farm businesses. That has made them easier to understand and reduced the associated bureaucracy and potential for error. The new rules make previously ineligible features, such as rush, scrub, bracken, heather and bogs, eligible. That is to the benefit of the environment. Specifically, it will help to address soil and water quality issues and challenges to biodiversity, as well as to mitigate climate change. Farmers no longer need to be concerned about receiving over-declaration penalties for areas of rush or scrub on their land that they have inadvertently failed to remove from the claim. Importantly, the simplifications will reduce the risk of environmental damage and the impact on biodiversity or water quality through activities undertaken to maintain eligibility, such as burning heather, the removal of scrub by mechanical means or controlling rush by spraying. Full details of that are in the 'Guide to Land Eligibility', which is available on the Department’s website.

Mr Muir

The roll-out of Farming with Nature is critical to supporting farmers, as the custodians of the countryside. I am conscious that agri-environment support reduced post the EU exit, and I am seeking to restore that. Last year, we launched the Farming with Nature transition scheme. A number of actions were available then, and there will be a further roll-out this year. I want to see the pace quicken, because it is important that we support farmers, and Farming with Nature is a key support scheme from the Department under the sustainable agriculture programme.

Mr McAleer

Minister, I welcome the simplifications and recognise the value of the changes for biodiversity. However, the inclusion of additional land in the rules for the farm sustainability payment and the closure of the regional reserve, with no new entitlements being issued, will mean that there is a shortage of entitlements to cover the new eligible land. Will you look again at the decision to close the regional reserve?

Mr Muir

There was significant debate about that issue at the Committee and in the Assembly. After leaving the EU, we had to set up our own farm support scheme. Change is difficult, and it requires decisions to be made. There are also actions under way on that through the historical years exercise. It is important that we proceed with the changes. There is overall environmental benefit for Northern Ireland from the changes to land eligibility. I note that the changes have been warmly welcomed by organisations such as Ulster Wildlife, and I was glad to see that.