Declan McAleer MLA has welcomed the decision by Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, to retain 3ha as the minimum farm size for the new farm sustainability payment in Northern Ireland.
Previously, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) had proposed to raise the threshold to 5ha.
This was part of the process initiated by DAERA while Stormont was in suspension (May 2022 to February 2024) to take forward the transition of basic payment scheme (BPS) entitlements into farm sustainability payment (FSP) entitlements as part of the launch of the farm sustainability transition payment (FSTP) in 2025.
In essence, the BPS will be replaced by a farm sustainability transition payment in 2025, with the full farm sustainability payment coming into operation in 2026.
One of the proposed eligibility requirements for FSTP in 2025 and FSP from 2026 onwards was for eligible farm businesses to activate five entitlements on five hectares of eligible land.
Previously, 3ha had been the minimum farm size recognised for the BPS.
“DAERA had proposed to increase the minimum claim size for the new Farm Sustainability Payment from the current three hectares to five hectares.
“The decision to retain the three hectare minimum claim size will come as a relief to the 1491 small farms, which would not have been eligible for the new payment.
“It would have put many of them out of business with serious consequences for these farmers, their families and the local economy,” McAleer said.
The MLA added that local farms “are essential for rural sustainability and the future of local schools, sports clubs and local services.
“In most cases, the only option to secure planning permission in rural areas is access to an active farm business number. If these farms went out of business, it would have a severe knock-on impact on young families wanting to set up home in the country.
“I welcome the fact that the minister has listened and has made the correct decision to help protect these small farms.”
