Agri-Environment Initiatives Grant Scheme
The Agri-Environment Initiatives Scheme (AES) has been created within the Agriculture and Fisheries Scheme (AFGS) to widen the scope of the AFGS to enable it to better meet the current Agricultural Strategy.
You should have now filled out your 2022-2023 Primary Initiatives application which came with your ADS form. If you did not submit your Primary Initiatives form but are now interested in applying for the primary initiatives, please contact the Agriculture Policy team agriculture.policy@gov.im.
All other individual application forms for the 2022-2023 scheme year can be found in the Downloadable Documents section of this page. Please refer to the AES Handbook and Guidelines 2022-23 document in the Downloadable Documents section when filling out your applications.
The online Imported Lime application form can be found at the bottom of this page
The Agricultural Strategy has four key objectives:
- The Environment – providing support for targeted initiatives that produce conserved and cherished landscapes, enhance biodiversity, sequester carbon and, improve water quality and reduce flood risk.
- Supporting Active Farmers – ensuring that financial support is targeted at businesses producing food, protecting the environment and catchment and landscape management.
- Productivity – supporting marketing, efficiency, knowledge, benchmarking and advice to sustainably improve farm profitability and secure the long-term viability of the industry, post BREXIT.
- Investment – increasing investment through capital grants, business confidence and profitability
The AES provides a mechanism to support the first three of these objectives through the following initiatives:
- The Creation of Desirable Permanent and Transient Habitats e.g. Woodland planting, dub creation, winter stubble, conservation headlands
- The Enhancement of Existing Habitats e.g. Hedge enhancement
- Protection of Existing Habitats e.g. The control of invasive species
- Catchment Management e.g. Water protection buffer zones
- Diffuse Water Pollution Management e.g. Crop Nutrient Management Plans, Manure Management Plans
- Agricultural/Horticultural initiatives e.g. Winter Cover Crops, Herd/Flock Plans, Livestock Productivity KP!s
- Wildlife Boxes
- Educational Visits
- Upland Stewardship Scheme
For further information on these initiatives please refer to the Handbook which you are able to find under the ‘Downloadable Documents’ section on this webpage.
AES Deadlines - Scheme year 2022-2023
| 5/01a - The Creation of Desirable Permanent Habitats | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/01a(i): Woodland Planting Scheme | before work has started | Once work is paid for | |
| 5/01a(ii): Dubs, Ponds, Scrapes and Wetland Habitats | before work has started | Once work is paid for | |
| 5/01a(iii): New Hedge Planting | before work has started | Once work is paid for | |
| 5/01a(iv): Farmer Initiatives | before work has started | Once work is paid for | |
| 5/01b - The Creation of Transient Permanent Habitats | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/01b(i): Winter Stubble | before 1st October | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/01b(ii): Winter Fodder Crops | before grazing commences | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/01b(iii) Traditional Spring Cropping | before 31st May | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/01b(iv): Conservation Headlands | before 1st July | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/01b(v): Unharvested Cereal Headlands | before 1st July | if the option was not on primary application | 31st March |
| 5/01b(vi): Biennial Wild Bird Seed Mix Strips | before 1st July | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/01b (vii): Supplementary Winter Feeding for Farmland Birds | before 1st August | Form on request from DEFA only | 1st June |
| 5/01b(viii-a): Buffer Strip on Cultivated Land | before 1st July | if the option was not on primary application | Once work is paid for (wildlife cover crop) |
| 5/02 - The Creation of Existing Habitats | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/02a: Hedge Enhancement | before work has started | 12 months from date of approval | |
| 5/02b: Hedge Management | before 1st September | 28th February | |
| 5/02c: Dry-stone Walling, Repairing or Rebuilding | before work has started | 12 months from date of approval | |
| 5/02d: Manx Sod Hedge Building, Repairing or Reduilding | before work has started | 12 months from date of approval | |
| 5/03 - Protection of Existing Habitats | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/03a: Control of Invasive Non-Native Plant Species | before work has started | Once work is paid for | |
| 5/04 - Catchment Management | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/04a: Wide Water or ASSI Buffer Zones (20-50m) | before 1st June | Form on request from DEFA only | 28th February |
| 5/04b: Water Protection Zones | before 30th June | Form on request from DEFA only | 28th February |
| 5/05 - Diffuse Water Pollution Management | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/05a: Crop Nutrient Management Plan | before 1st October | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/05b: Manure Management Plan | before 1st October | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/05c: Infield Grass Strips | before 1st June | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/06 - Argricultural and Horticultural Initiatives | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/06a: Winter Cover Crops | before 1st August | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/06b: Soil Fertility - Soil Sampling | before work has started | 12 months from date of approval | |
| 5/06c: Soil Fertility - Imported Lime | before work has started | Once work is paid for | |
| 5/06d: Legumes Combined/Harvested Forage | before 1st June | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February (claim after 1st September) |
| 5/06e: The Creation of Legume Rich Swards | before 1st October | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/06f: Organic Scheme Conversion and Management | None | 28th February (claim after 1st August) | |
| 5/06g: Plant and Animal Health - Intergrated Pest Management | before 30th June | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/06h: Animal Health - Herd/Flock Health Plan | before 30th June | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/06i: All Productivity Recording KPIs (Dairy, Beef, Sheep, Other Livestock and Arable) | before 30th June | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February |
| 5/06n: The Creation of Herbal leys | before 1st October | if the option was not on primary application | 28th February (claim after 30th October) |
| 5/06o: Pest and Disease Monitoring | before work has started | 12 months from date of approval | |
| 5/06p: Delivering a Unique or Desirable Habitat | before 30th June | 28th February | |
| Initiative | Aplication deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/07 - Wildlife Boxes | before work has started | 12 months from date of approval | |
| 5/08 - Educational Visits | before date of first visit | Following each planned visit | |
| 5/09 - Upland Stewardship Scheme | before 1st July | 28th February |
Download the PDF version of the above table.
Guidance Notes
The Guidance Notes provide information on the Scheme for potential applicants and cover the types of business eligible for support, the range of initiatives for which financial assistance is available and the rates of grant applying. Advice is also provided on the application and claim processes.
The Guidance Notes, paper application forms and the Agri-Environment Handbook can be downloaded from the ‘Downloadable Documents’ section on this page.
Imported Lime Grants
You are still able to apply for grant for Imported Lime (Schedule 5/06c) using the online application form.
Contact Details
Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture
Agriculture and Lands Directorate
Thie Slieau Whallian
Foxdale Road
St Johns
IM4 3AS
Email:Send Email
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is committed to ensuring that its services are accessible to all. If you require these documents in an alternative format and / or language please contact us to discuss your needs.
