From 1 January 2026, new land eligibility rules will apply to the Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme, bringing important changes for farm businesses across Fermanagh & Omagh.
The updated rules are part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme and are intended to better reflect the type of land that dominates much of the west — recognising that productive farming here often goes hand-in-hand with managing wetlands, uplands, rushy ground and marginal land.
A better fit for local land
Across Fermanagh & Omagh, many farms include:
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Rushy fields
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Scrub and bracken
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Blanket bog and wetter ground
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Stony or uneven terrain
Under the new rules, these soft vegetative features are now eligible, recognising their role in carbon storage, flood management, soil protection and biodiversity. This is a significant shift for local farmers who have long managed land that doesn’t fit neat, intensive farming models.
In most cases, all agricultural land is eligible, except for clearly defined hard features such as buildings, yards and laneways.
Which land qualifies?
To be eligible, land must:
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Be recorded in DAERA’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS)
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Measure at least 0.1 hectares
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Have a DAERA-recognised boundary
Eligible land includes:
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Rush, scrub, bracken, blanket bog and lowland raised bog
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Discrete woodland areas under 5 hectares
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Land with up to 70% stones, scree or rock — common on upland and marginal ground
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Woodland that is, or has been, part of a forestry or agri-environment scheme since 1 January 2009
Land that remains excluded
The following are not eligible:
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Buildings, yards, laneways and other hard features
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Woodland areas 5 hectares or more
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Smaller woodland contained within a larger woodland block
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State-owned woodland or woodland on state-owned land
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Land associated with airstrips or airports
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Land used for solar panels
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Public parks and gardens
Active farming still matters
While the rules are more inclusive, eligibility still depends on active farming.
Farm businesses must:
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Be carrying out agricultural activity
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Have management control of the land used to activate entitlements
Minimum activity thresholds apply:
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Claims of 5 hectares or more must include agricultural activity on at least 3 hectares
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Claims of less than 5 hectares must include activity on at least 2 hectares
This is particularly relevant for smaller holdings and part-time farms common across the district.
What local farmers should do now
With 2026 approaching, farmers in Fermanagh & Omagh are encouraged to:
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Review LPIS maps and land parcel boundaries
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Identify newly eligible areas such as rush or scrub land
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Familiarise themselves with the revised eligibility guidance on the DAERA website
Understanding these changes early will help avoid issues at claim time and ensure local farm businesses can benefit fully from the new scheme.
The revised rules reflect a more realistic view of farming in the west — valuing sustainable land management while supporting farm incomes and the long-term resilience of rural communities across Fermanagh & Omagh.
