Record numbers apply for countryside management scheme

Over 3,000 farmers have applied to enter the Countryside Management Scheme for 2004, it was announced today.

Farmers who join the Scheme will enter all of their farmed land into a 10-year management agreement and will receive annual payments for adhering to the Scheme prescriptions.

Announcing the news, Agriculture Minister, Ian Pearson said: "The Countryside Management Scheme already has 2,684 participant farmers from four earlier application periods. This upsurge in interest in the scheme should allow DARD to achieve its target of 4,000 participant farmers, with 150,000 hectares under agreement, well in advance of 2006."

The Minister explained that a total of 3,195 applications were received during the 2004 application period, which closed on 12 March 2004.

The Countryside Management Scheme was open to all Northern Ireland farmers outside the Environmentally Sensitive Areas who have on their farm at least one of the special features or wildlife habitats targeted under the Scheme.

The Scheme promotes farming systems that maintain biodiversity, improve water quality in rivers and lakes and integrate management of landscape and heritage features into everyday workings on the farm.

The Scheme, which applies in the 80% of Northern Ireland's land area outside the Environmentally Sensitive Areas, will provide financial assistance to participants, while setting a number of rigorous environmental conditions, which must be adhered to.

(MB)