DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the passing of the Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.
This provides DAERA with the legal powers to introduce the Farm Sustainability Transition Payment (FSTP) in 2025.and a number of more general provisions intended to support the roll out of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP).
Welcoming this outcome DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA said: “These Regulations are essential to ensure I can deliver for our farming community by opening the Farm Sustainability Transition Payment as planned on 3 March.
“They also provide the legal basis for the roll out of other schemes under the Sustainable Agriculture Programme including the Suckler Cow Scheme, Farming with Nature and Knowledge Transfer Schemes.”
FSTP will replace the current Basic Payment Scheme and provide a transition to the planned launch of the full Farm Sustainability Payment in 2026.
Thanking Assembly Members and the DAERA Committee for their input, Minister Muir MLA said: “The Sustainable Agriculture Programme has been developed in partnership with the Agricultural Policy Stakeholder Group and is fundamental to helping DAERA support our farm businesses. It enables us to collectively achieve our environmental and climate change goals, providing the right support and policies to help us move forward on a journey of change ensuring both environmental and economic sustainability.”
