Agri-Environment Initiatives Grant Scheme
About the Agri-Environment Initiatives Scheme (AES)
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 | N/A | Once work is paid for |
| 5/01a(ii): Dubs, Ponds, Scrapes and Wetland Habitats | before work has started | N/A | Once work is paid for |
| 5/01a(iii): New Hedge Planting | before work has started | N/A | Once work is paid for |
| 5/01a(iv): Farmer Initiatives | before work has started | N/A | 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 1 October | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/01b(ii): Winter Fodder Crops | before grazing commences | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/01b(iii) Traditional Spring Cropping | before 31 May | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/01b(iv): Conservation Headlands | before 1 July | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/01b(v): Unharvested Cereal Headlands | before 1 July | if the option was not on primary application | 31 March |
| 5/01b(vi): Biennial Wild Bird Seed Mix Strips | before 1 July | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/01b (vii): Supplementary Winter Feeding for Farmland Birds | before 1 August | Form on request from DEFA only | 1 June |
| 5/01b(viii-a): Buffer Strip on Cultivated Land | before 1 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 | N/A | 12 months from date of approval |
| 5/02b: Hedge Management | before 1 September | N/A | 28 February |
| 5/02c: Dry-stone Walling, Repairing or Rebuilding | before work has started | N/A | 12 months from date of approval |
| 5/02d: Manx Sod Hedge Building, Repairing or Reduilding | before work has started | N/A | 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 | N/A | 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 1 June | Form on request from DEFA only | 28 February |
| 5/04b: Water Protection Zones | before 30 June | Form on request from DEFA only | 28 February |
| 5/05 - Diffuse Water Pollution Management | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/05a: Crop Nutrient Management Plan | before 1 October | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/05b: Manure Management Plan | before 1 October | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/05c: Infield Grass Strips | before 1 June | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/06 - Argricultural and Horticultural Initiatives | Application deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/06a: Winter Cover Crops | before 1 August | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/06b: Soil Fertility - Soil Sampling | before work has started | N/A | 12 months from date of approval |
| 5/06c: Soil Fertility - Imported and Manx Lime | before work has started | N/A | Once work is paid for |
| 5/06d: Legumes Combined/Harvested Forage | before 1 June | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February (claim after 1 September) |
| 5/06e: The Creation of Legume Rich Swards | before 1 October | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/06f: Organic Scheme Conversion and Management | None | N/A | 28 February (claim after 1 August) |
| 5/06g: Plant and Animal Health - Intergrated Pest Management | before 30 June | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/06h: Animal Health - Herd/Flock Health Plan | before 30th June | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/06i: All Productivity Recording KPIs (Dairy, Beef, Sheep, Other Livestock and Arable) | before 30 June | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February |
| 5/06n: The Creation of Herbal leys | before 1 October | if the option was not on primary application | 28 February (claim after 30 October) |
| 5/06o: Pest and Disease Monitoring | before work has started | N/A | 12 months from date of approval |
| 5/06p: Delivering a Unique or Desirable Habitat | before 30 June | N/A | 28 February |
| Initiative | Aplication deadline | Comments | Claim form deadline |
| 5/07 - Wildlife Boxes | before work has started | N/A | 12 months from date of approval |
| 5/08 - Educational Visits | before date of first visit | N/A | Following each planned visit |
| 5/09 - Upland Stewardship Scheme | before 1 July | N/A | 28 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.
Manx and Imported Lime initiative (Schedule5/06C)
Who can apply?
An individual resident on the Island for tax purposes and carrying out agricultural or horticultural activity on the Island; who meets the Agricultural Development Scheme Active farmer criteria:
Grant rate - Manx
The Grant for the Manx Lime scheme will be calculated based on 50% of the cost of the purchase and spreading of the lime.
Grant rate - Imported
The Grant for imported will be calculated based on 25p per tonne per percentage ENV. For a product with an ENV of 57.7% this equals to 25p * 57.7 = ~£14.43/tonne.
The application process
This follows the AFGS process, the Department must have received a completed application before work has started i.e. before the lime is ordered. However for this first Scheme year (2022/23) applications dated from 1 April will be accepted.
Information required
The information required includes, basic contact details, tonnes required.
Payment
This follows the AFGS process, once the lime has been paid for, a claim for payment can be made.
Apply online
Pest and disease monitoring 5/06o
Pest and Disease monitoring Purpose: Optimising production, reducing the use of Pesticides, whilst maximising returns to the farmer.
Schedule / Number 5/06o Payment Rate: 80% of costs Items of Expenditure Eligible for support include: Laboratory analysis and sampling costs, an integrated Pest Management Plan must be produced and updated annually and a copy made available to the Department if requested.
The Application Process follows the AFGS process: The Department must have received a completed application form before work commences.
The information required on Application Form includes basic contact details and number /type of testing taking place, once work has been paid for, a claim for payment can be made. A copy of the receipted invoices or proof of payment must be supplied with the grant claim form, once this has been assessed the payment will be processed. It is your responsibility to be aware of the conditions applicable to your application and the Claim Form expiry date is generally 12 months from approval.
Contact details
Agriculture Team – Agriculture and Lands Directorate
Thie Slieau Whallian
Foxdale Road
St John's
IM4 3AS
Telephone:+44 1624 695742
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.
