The next item of business is a motion to approve a draft statutory rule.

I beg to move

That the draft Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

The Business Committee has agreed that there should be no time limit on this debate. I call the Minister to open the debate on the motion.

Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to propose a motion on what is almost the last item of Assembly business for today. Hopefully, the tone of this debate will be a bit more conciliatory than that of the previous debate.

The Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 give my Department the legal powers to introduce the Farming with Nature package. The Farming with Nature package is one of the key priorities within the Department's new sustainable agriculture programme. My ambition for the Farming with Nature package is to scale up nature-friendly farming, with all farmers being rewarded for delivering environmental public goods alongside important food production. In addition, the package aims to contribute to the delivery of many of DAERA's strategic environmental outcomes by supporting farmers and land managers to make substantial contributions to environmental improvements and sustainability.

The Farming with Nature package is being developed through a co-design and engagement process, including the agricultural policy stakeholder group (APSG) and the Farming with Nature group, which comprise key agriculture and environment stakeholders. It is proposed that the Farming with Nature package will be introduced using a phased approach. The first phase will be the Farming with Nature transition scheme, which is planned to launch in June 2025. The Farming with Nature transition scheme aims to support biodiversity on farms by funding a range of environmental actions, including hedgerow planting, creating and repairing buffer strips, farmland tree planting, and more. It will underpin the overall Farming with Nature package and allow farmers to implement actions that will deliver additional habitats, protect watercourses, provide green infrastructure for nature corridors and increase carbon sequestration. The second phase is the Farming with Nature landscapes projects. It will allow a group of farmers to collaborate and develop innovative approaches to restore nature at a landscape scale in Northern Ireland. Further phases are planned, initially focusing on priority habitats.

The Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 are being introduced to make technical amendments to assimilated direct legislation regulation 1305/2013. The regulations amend article 28(5) to allow the Farming with Nature transition scheme to operate on a yearly basis, rather than seeking five- or seven-year commitments. In practice, that means that farmers can apply annually to carry out environmental improvements. The amendment of article 28(10) will allow the Department to set out the conditions of the scheme while maintaining the vires that allow the current environmental farming scheme agreements to operate. The regulations also amend article 35(8) to enable the Farming with Nature landscape projects to operate for a minimum of one year, and article 35(10) will be amended to allow for farmer groups to be established and conditions set as part of the intended design of the landscape projects scheme.

That concludes my overview of the Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025. I am happy to answer any questions that are raised during the debate in my closing remarks.

I call Patsy McGlone.

Go raibh —.

[Translation: May there be —.]

Sorry, Patsy. I call Robbie Butler.

Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. Maybe it is a case of age before beauty, Patsy.

Aye, well, I know that you have to go first.

[Laughter.]

The Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs first considered the SL1 for these draft regulations at its meeting on 10 April 2025. The Committee heard from the officials that DAERA intended to make a statutory rule to introduce the Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 to provide the legal powers to implement the Farming with Nature package as part of the continued roll-out of the sustainable agriculture programme. The Committee heard that the SR would be laid before the Assembly under the draft affirmative procedure, and that the Farming with Nature package will replace the current environmental farming scheme. The Committee was advised that the new, simpler scheme would be launched in three phases, starting in 2025, and that, as an annual scheme, it will have a cap, unlike the former environmental farming scheme (EFS), which was over a five-year period. Phase 1 is the Farming with Nature transition scheme, phase 2 is the Farming with Nature landscape projects and phase 3 is the Farming with Nature priority habitats.

The Committee had a number of queries for officials. It asked about the key differences between the previous and new schemes. It also asked about the five aspects of phase 1 and was advised that a farmer can select the ones most suitable to the farm business as opposed to all five. Furthermore, the Committee asked about the range of stakeholders involved in the co-design, had queries about the voluntary nature of the scheme and asked whether the minimum of three qualifying hectares still applied. The Committee then agreed to write to the Department for clarification on when it was first considered that the Farming with Nature scheme was required to replace the EFS and when work commenced on that scheme, whether the Minister has powers to move funds between the relevant schemes under the Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, and whether it is the intention that the voluntary element of the scheme will be removed during the course of the mandate.

The Committee was due to consider the draft SR at its meeting on 10 April, but the session was postponed after a drafting issue was identified by the Examiner of Statutory Rules (ESR). However, the Committee considered the response that it received from DAERA to its queries on that date. The Department's response stated that, since the outset of the development of a farm policy in 2018 to replace the EU-funded CAP, it has been the intention that environmental farming schemes would form part of a farm support package, and that it was formally named as the Farming with Nature package in 2021. Article 13 of the Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 provides the powers to move funds between the relevant schemes. There have been no discussions to date on removing the voluntary element of the scheme. Perhaps the Minister will speak to that.

At its meeting on 8 May, the Committee considered the final draft SR and heard from officials that, as highlighted by the ESR, the amendments were on technical issues and typos and tightened up the SR, making it more readable and understandable. There were no further queries for the officials, and members agreed to support the SR as drafted pending the ESR's report. That report was issued on Friday, and the draft SR was not drawn to the Assembly's special attention. The Committee agreed to recommend that the Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed and made by the Assembly.

You are definitely on now, Patsy.

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

[Translation: Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.]

The SDLP welcomes the statutory rule for the Farming with Nature regulations. The regulations mark a significant step forward in addressing the twin crises of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. The Farming with Nature regulations are necessary, science-based and long overdue.

As we debate the regulations, I want to bring into the Chamber the voices of those who will most directly be affected by their implementation: our farmers. Over the past year, I have been in regular contact with farming communities across my constituency of Mid Ulster. Many of them care deeply about the environment. They understand, perhaps better than most, the importance of healthy soils, clean water and functioning ecosystems — after all, they work with nature every single day. However, they are also worried, and understandably so. Farmers tell me that, while they are committed to and broadly support the aims of the regulations, they need clear guarantees that the Department will back the legislation with the funding, practical support and fair incentives that are required to make the transition sustainable. The regulations insist on a significant shift in practice. They will require a change in nutrient management, habitat protection, soil care and livestock systems. That is no small ask, especially in the current climate of economic uncertainty, with rising input costs and the pressures that already weigh heavily on farm families. Those of us who were at the Balmoral show last week will have heard about that.

Let us be absolutely clear: having regulation without support is to risk alienating the very people whom we need to bring with us. The Assembly must recognise that our farmers are not the enemies of nature but essential partners in restoring it. If we expect them to meet higher environmental standards, we have a duty, as legislators and policymakers, to ensure that they are not left to shoulder the burden alone. That means committing to a well-resourced programme of support; necessitating targeted grants to help our farmers to invest in infrastructure and low-impact technologies; access to agrienvironment schemes that support sustainable land management; on-the-ground advice and technical assistance rather than just compliance checks; and a coherent, long-term vision for agri-food policy that values nature and food production equally.

This is not about compliance; it is about creating a new model of farming that is resilient, productive and environmentally sound. We must move beyond the false dichotomy between farming and nature. The truth is that there is no future for farming without nature. Without pollinators, healthy soils, stable weather and clean water, our food systems simply would not function. Likewise, there is no future for nature in Northern Ireland without the active engagement of our farmers. If properly delivered, the regulations can become the foundation of a positive partnership that supports farming families to remain on the land while restoring the ecological health of that land for generations. That will not happen by decree alone; it will happen when we listen, designing policy that is not just for the environment but designed with those who live and work on the land. It will happen when we take seriously the lived experience of farmers and respond not just with rules but with respect, resources and realism. Real risk lies in failing to act. If we delay, we will only deepen the environmental crisis that we already face and make future reforms more costly, urgent and painful for farmers and society alike. We should not underestimate the opportunity that lies before us. The North has a chance to lead and to show how a small, rural region can support both a productive agri-food sector and a thriving natural environment. However, that leadership has to be rooted in fairness and partnership.

I support the Farming with Nature regulations because they are essential, but I urge the Department and the Assembly to ensure that they are delivered in ways that uplift, not undermine, our rural communities.

I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber on the matter of the SR on the Farming with Nature scheme. As Robbie said, we have considered this in Committee and had written and oral briefings on it. Sinn Féin supports its objective of increasing the extent of habitats on farmland through schemes such as increasing the number of habitats, protecting watercourses, creating nature corridors and increasing sequestration. We recognise that it is important to have a successor to the environmental farming scheme, and I recall that, at the outset, when this came up for discussion, the Department said that it would look at what was good and not so good about previous environmental schemes and pick the best bits to create this one. We welcome the fact that it was co-designed in partnership with the APSG and the Farming with Nature co-design group that was established in June 2024.

We highlighted a number of issues in Committee, however, and I would appreciate it, if the Minister would address them in his response today. The Minister has indicated that there will be a cap on this, but we do not know what it is. There are farmers who welcome the fact that the scheme is coming in but recognise that it will be funded from a cut to their single farm payment, so that is obviously a concern. Farmers are also anxious that payments may go exclusively to landowners — people who do not produce food or farm the land — so perhaps the Minister could address that in his response.

We also posed questions. How does the scheme interface with other schemes? For example, tree planting is part of Farming with Nature, but how does that interface with the woodland grant schemes and the other schemes that the Forest Service has brought out? How does it interface with the farm sustainability payment, given that the application window is not aligned with the farm sustainability payment deadline? The correspondence says that all actions must be completed by the end of March 2026. I presume that it will be autumn before applications can be made, so actions will have to be completed within five or six months, which will be challenging. Whilst that may be the planting season for hedges, it is not a good time of year to be fencing. This is the time of year that you want to be fencing along rivers, for example, rather than in the dead of winter, when it is wet.

Reference has been made to phases. Am I right in saying that you can choose one of the phases and that there is not a fixed succession, so that you can go into phase 1, 2 or 3?

Finally, our briefing note mentioned third-party landscape project coordinators in phase 2, so I would be grateful for a wee bit of information about who those project coordinators might be. Are they groups? Are they organisations? How will they be appointed by the Department, and how will they work with clusters of farmers?

I welcome the SR. We support it, and I thank the Minister for coming here today.

The Democratic Unionist Party fully supports the design of a Farming with Nature policy that provides fair and attractive outcome-based payments. With about 78% of land in Northern Ireland being managed by farmers, it is crucial that agrienvironment schemes are capable of meeting demand and that they are practical, particularly given that it is often not financially viable for farm businesses to take actions with the sole aim of improving the environment. Farming with Nature policies have to coexist with productive agriculture. There is an underlying fear that, although the Minister's intention at present is to respect the voluntary nature of the scheme, that could change. When that is coupled with the destructive proposals on nutrients, many in agriculture have legitimate concerns about what the future holds.

Whilst the regulations are framed as being technical — I do not want to repeat many of the concerns that Mr McAleer highlighted — we need to see clarity from the Department on the operation of any cap on the value of claims, along with assurances that the overall level of financial support available will not be reduced. It is welcome, however, that the intention is to avoid a prescriptive approach to the actions and supporting actions available and that future claims will be allowed irrespective of whether the cap on the annual claim has been reached in the previous year. It would be irresponsible, however, to consider today's regulations in isolation from the Minister's harmful proposals for a nutrients action programme. The proposals show a deep lack of practical understanding of the realities that farmers face. The Minister will have heard that loud and clear at Balmoral. Instead of working with producers to find balanced and science-led solutions, he has produced a plan that threatens to undermine an industry that is already under immense pressure from rising costs and other climate adaptation requirements.

The agri-food sector is the backbone of our rural economy. The proposed restrictions could devastate farm incomes, jeopardise Northern Ireland's food security and lead to unintended consequences such as farm consolidation or even the abandonment of productive land. The Minister needs to scrap the proposals, return to the table, engage with stakeholders across the industry and deliver a new approach that protects both our environment and the livelihoods of those who live and work in our rural communities.

Farmers have led the way in sustainable practices for years. I have no doubt that the outworking of the future Farming with Nature policy will again demonstrate that. As a party, we fully support responsible environmental stewardship, but it must be achieved through genuine partnership, not punitive measures. We support the measures before us.

The next Member to speak — just in time — is John Blair.

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.

I support the draft Farming with Nature Regulations announced last week by the AERA Minister at the Balmoral show, a timely occasion for such an announcement. Indeed, the Balmoral show highlighted the pivotal role that agriculture plays in the daily lives of individuals and communities throughout Northern Ireland. Our rich agricultural heritage was showcased, and the emphasis was on farming as a significant contributor to our local economy. It was encouraging to the Minister's presence at the show over a number of days, if not every day. His commitment to finding a balance between agricultural sustainability and environmental responsibilities is truly commendable, especially in today's challenging landscape. Addressing the issues presents a significant ongoing challenge for various reasons, including budget constraints, as discussed literally moments ago in today's Budget debate.

The Farming with Nature Regulations represent a further initiative from the Minister that will move us closer to achieving a more sustainable agriculture sector in Northern Ireland. If the regulations are passed, the transition scheme will commence next month, empowering farmers across the region to adopt nature-friendly practices that not only preserve but enrich our environment. The intention behind the package is clear: to support our farmers in cultivating a future in which agricultural practices contribute positively to the protection of our habitats and ecosystems. The actions outlined in the initial phase, such as planting new hedgerows and trees and planting farmland with multi-species winter cover crops, are essential for enhancing biodiversity, improving soil health and sequestering carbon. Those steps lay the groundwork for making genuine strides in mitigating climate change whilst supporting our agriculture sector.

Importantly, the Minister has emphasised that this is just the starting point for his Department's ambitions, with plans to significantly expand the initiatives in the coming years. As I have said many times in the Chamber, farming and environmental sustainability must go hand in hand. The regulations mark a broader commitment to sustainable practices that will grow in scope and impact. They are a necessary follow-on from and appear to build on the environmental farming scheme, and I hope that the Minister, when he responds, will clarify further the future of that scheme.

I urge all Members to support the regulations so that farmers can be recognised and rewarded for their vital role as custodians of the land. The Alliance Party will continue to ensure that nature-friendly farming becomes an attractive and financially viable option for our farmers. Farming with Nature is an appropriate title for a timely programme, because there can be no farming without nature.

The next Member to speak will be the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, who will conclude and wind up the debate. Minister, this is not the last item of business; we have another motion after this. The Floor is yours.

Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.

I thank everyone for the constructive comments. From my officials' feedback, I know that engagement on the Farming with Nature scheme at the Balmoral show was extremely positive, and people are looking forward to taking part in it. I thank the officials, who did a great job over the four days of the Balmoral show. The DAERA stand was really impressive, as was officials' engagement more broadly. I will try to swerve back so that I do not stray too far from talking about Farming with Nature, but the Balmoral show was a really good example of the farming with nature that is occurring and of what is best about our agri-food industry. I am proud of us for putting our best foot forward over those four days.

It is important that I deal with some of the comments that were raised. In particular, the Committee Chair asked whether the scheme will be voluntary. The plan is for it to be voluntary. The Chair asked that important question, and, hopefully, people are happy with my clarification.

Patsy McGlone asked about funding, knowledge transfer and support. There is funding in the Budget this year for Farming with Nature: £4·8 million of capital. It is really important that we grasp the opportunity for the next Budget, which, hopefully, will be a three-year resource Budget and four-year capital Budget that will give certainty to everyone about Farming with Nature and more broadly as well. I was the only Minister in the UK to get agreement for funding to be ring-fenced for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development in this financial year and future financial years, and I was glad to get that agreement. Once we get that envelope, we can hopefully give people a bit more reassurance, particularly over Farming with Nature, because it is important that we plan around the scheme for the long term.

Declan raised another issue, which was about taking learning from other schemes. We have sought to do that. I thank everyone who engaged on that from the agriculture and environment community, because it is really important that their voices were heard and that they provided input to shape something that is fit for purpose. Members could be told different stories about the EFS in the South, which has now become the agri-climate rural environment scheme (ACRES), and about the environmental land management (ELM) schemes in England. Lots of learning is to be taken from those schemes. We have lost pace in rolling out agrienvironment schemes in Northern Ireland, so we are seeking to make a start on the roll-out of Farming with Nature from next month.

Declan asked about the cap, which is an important point. The cap will be £9,500 a year, and you can apply every year. The scheme will be run for two years initially, and we will then review it before considering any further roll-out.

A point was raised about farm sustainability standards. This year, Farming with Nature is not linked to those standards, because they are still to be finalised, but there is a desire to consider how that relationship will emerge. The discussion about farm sustainability standards is separate, however.

Declan also outlined the challenge of getting the scheme out before the end of the financial year. I do not underestimate that challenge. We seek to progress the scheme as quickly as possible. I appreciate the Committee's engagement, but the pace of progress will be important. I look to everyone here to promote the scheme so that people can take it up. It will hopefully be popular, but it is a voluntary scheme, so we also hope that we can encourage people to become involved. It is important that we get people to buy into the scheme and that we support them to do so.

I will move on to other points. Michelle McIlveen raised some issues of which I am aware that were raised in Committee. Her points were consistent with what was said in Committee. I recognise her concerns about the complex nature of the nutrients action programme. That is why I have extended the consultation by four weeks to give people the opportunity to consider it and respond.

I will return to Farming with Nature. John asked about the relationship between farming and nature: that is why it is called "Farming with Nature". Understanding that there is an interrelationship between the two is key. Farmers are the custodians of our countryside and the people who are helping us deliver the change that is required to allow nature recovery and to address biodiversity loss.

John asked about the EFS, and I want to be open. When I came into office, a policy decision was made to move towards Farming with Nature, which is what I am presenting to Members today. We are looking to scale up, and the Farming with Nature transition scheme is not the ceiling of my ambition. We have to move at pace with Farming with Nature, however. We need to make it the focus of our resources. The EFS will therefore not be open for future applications.

I know that that is difficult, but our sole focus is on getting Farming with Nature out on the ground and scaled up so that farmers can access it. It is important that I give that clarity.

I have made a strong commitment to Farming with Nature and to agrienvironment support schemes. That is why I secured ring-fenced funding for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development and why I will continue to engage with the Committee on the journey ahead with Farming with Nature. I am very grateful for the fantastic work by farmers across our country on enabling nature recovery and respect for biodiversity. We want to give them the tools to do that. The Farming with Nature transition scheme is the start of that journey.

I thank the members of the Committee who engaged in the Committee process. There will be further secondary legislation that will be subject to negative procedure. Thanks for the opportunity to engage on this matter and for the support. We are all together on giving people the tools through Farming with Nature.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved:

That the draft Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

Members, please take your ease.

(Mr Deputy Speaker [Mr Blair] in the Chair)