Debate contribution: Sustainable Agriculture Programme: Small Farms
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 20 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Sustainable Agriculture Programme: Small Farms
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5798610
Read the official Assembly record
Text
My Department’s sustainable agriculture programme (SAP) is delivering approximately £330 million annually in farm support and is being developed in conjunction with the agricultural policy stakeholder group, which includes farming representatives, industry and environmental groups. A key priority is ensuring that all farm businesses, including smaller farms, can access and benefit from SAP schemes. A programme of communications is in place to ensure that all farm businesses are aware of the support and application timelines. When developing the new farm sustainability payment scheme, which was launched this year, I retained the minimum claim size at 3 hectares, to help smaller farms continue to access that important resilience payment. Approximately £245 million has been paid to farm businesses since September. Smaller farms can also access the Farming with Nature package, which provides an additional income stream to support productive, environmentally sustainable farming. The sustainable farming investment scheme offers all farmers grant aid of up to £25,000 for on-farm investment to improve environmental performance and business efficiency. The Farming for Sustainability knowledge transfer scheme offers farm support via information, training and peer-to-peer learning groups. In addition, the Farming for Sustainability innovation scheme equips and supports all farmers to explore new ideas and innovations essential for building a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable sector.
211 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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