Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS)

• a Higher Level, primarily for environmentally designated sites and other priority habitats
• a Wider Level to deliver benefits across the countryside, outside of environmentally designated areas
• a Group Level to support co-operative action by farmers in specific areas such as a river catchment

The Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) is not currently open for applications

Applications which deliver most environmental benefit for the scheme objectives of restoring, preserving and enhancing biodiversity, improving water quality and mitigating against climate change will receive priority entry into the scheme.

Keep on track with EFS - Three essential steps

Claim management and confirmation:- Your EFS claim must be made on the annual Single Application during each of the 5 years of your agreement. If your agreement commenced on the 1 January 2024 you have until 31 December 2024 to complete the work.

You must also confirm the work that you have completed as part of your EFS agreement at the end of the first year (for agreements commencing 1 January 2024 onwards). Claim Confirmations must be submitted here. If it has become clear that you will not complete all of the work claimed for on your Single Application you must reduce your claim via your Claim Confirmation.

2024 Claim Confirmation

The EFS Claim Confirmation 'How to Video' is not being updated for 2024 as there is very little or no changes to the application screens that you will visit. Some of the information given is different as noted as below.

Access the DAERA Online Services as normal and on the Home page select EFS Claim Confirmation (bottom right-hand corner)

Claim confirmation opens on 02/12/24 and closes at midnight on 06/01/25

EFS Claim Confirmation is only for EFS Higher Tranche 7 Year 1 agreements that started on 01/01/24

You can still revisit your EFS Claim Confirmation to view or make changes to your EFS Claim Confirmation up until midnight on 06/01/25

EFS training online:- If you started your EFS agreement in January 2024 you must complete your EFS training online as soon as possible. Your payment depends on it. Click here for Online training for EFS Agreements Guidance Documents.

Keep field records:- Find more information for record keeping for EFS Wider and for record keeping for EFS Higher.