The Union has asked the Minister to consider what further steps can be taken to resolve the issues and ensure that as many eligible farmers as possible can participate in the current scheme year.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has written to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir seeking immediate action to address environmental mapping constraints that are preventing eligible farmers from accessing options under Tranche 2 of the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme (FWNTS).
The Union has been engaging with farmers across Northern Ireland who have encountered issues with environmental mapping layers, preventing them from applying for some or all scheme options despite being willing to participate.
UFU President John McLenaghan said, “The UFU fully supports the objectives of the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme and recognises the important role it can play in delivering environmental improvements. However, farmers who are willing and eligible to participate should not be excluded because of technical or mapping constraints.
“We have raised these concerns directly with the Minister after hearing from members who have found that environmental mapping layers are restricting access to scheme options on land that is actively farmed.”
The Union said the issue appears to be particularly significant for cereal and potato growers in the North West, where productive agricultural land is reportedly being deemed ineligible for elements of the scheme.
Mr McLenaghan continued, “We appreciate that making changes during an active application window presents challenges, but that should not prevent practical solutions from being explored.
“Our concern is that rigid application of mapping criteria, particularly where they do not accurately reflect conditions on the ground, risks undermining confidence in what has been presented as a flagship environmental scheme.”
The UFU also reiterated its long-standing concerns around farmland being designated for environmental purposes without the knowledge or consent of the landowner, warning that the current issues demonstrate the unintended consequences this can create for both farmers and the delivery of environmental outcomes.
The Union has asked the Minister to consider what further steps can be taken to resolve the issues and ensure that as many eligible farmers as possible can participate in the current scheme year.
