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.

The Agricultural Strategy has four key objectives:

1. 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.
2. Supporting Active Farmers – ensuring that financial support is targeted at businesses producing food, protecting the environment and catchment and landscape management.
3. Productivity – supporting marketing, efficiency, knowledge, benchmarking and advice to sustainably improve farm profitability and secure the long-term viability of the industry, post BREXIT.
4. 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.

Application to the Scheme

If you would like to apply to the Scheme, you will need to complete the “Intention to Apply” form in the first instance.  You will be able to indicate which Schedules you are interested in, but the form will also be used as an application form for the following Schedules:

• 5/01b: Winter stubble
• 5/05a: Crop nutrient management plan
• 5/05b: Manure management plan
• 5/06g: Plant and Animal Health - Integrated Pest Management
• 5/06h: Animal Health - Herd/Flock Health Plan

As well as the KPI based initiatives

• 5/06i:   Dairy productivity recording KPI's
• 5/06j:   Beef productivity KPI's
• 5/06k:  Sheep KPI's
• 5/06l:   Other Livestock KPI's
• 5/06m: Arable cost of production

You will be able to find the “Intention to Apply” form under the ‘Downloadable Document’ section on this webpage, for further information please refer to the Guidance Notes.

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

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.