The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced the timeline for the new farm support and development programme.

The department said that the programme will meet "the unique needs and challenges" of the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland.

The schemes and measures to be introduced in the coming months and years are focused on increased productivity; improved resilience; environmental sustainability; and an effective functioning supply chain.

DAERA said the programme will contribute to the agriculture sector's statutory climate change obligations, with a firm focus on just transition.

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.

“Our goal has always been to create a profitable, productive, environmentally sustainable and resilient agri-food sector and we believe we are well on our way to achieving that.

"Thanks to the ideas, efforts and collaborative working from across our stakeholders we are redefining our agricultural policy for the first time in 50 years for the benefit of this and future generations.

“It means we will be targeting support and development programmes to meet our local needs and priorities more effectively.

"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," Fulton explained.

The proposed timeline for the introduction of the support measures 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: Initiation of the Ruminant Genetics Programme in June 2023 with the launch of the tendering process for a supplier;
A carbon benchmarking programme for Northern Ireland to commence in autumn 2023;
A Farming for the Generations pilot programme to launch in autumn 2023.
A new suite of knowledge transfer and innovation programmes to commence in spring 2024;
Farming with nature test and learn pilots to launch in late 2023 and throughout 2024;
A beef carbon reduction scheme will open in early 2024;
The horticulture sector growth support schemes will aim to commence in spring 2024;
The current Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will continue to operate in 2024 with existing land eligibility and cross compliance conditions. A Farm Sustainability Transition Payment with some new conditions will be introduced in 2025. The full Farm Sustainability Payment will go live in 2026;
It is planned that the capital investment measure will be available from late 2024;
Beef Sustainability Package: The Suckler Cow Scheme will open in early 2025;
Supply Chain Support Scheme will be provided from mid-2025.