Minister Muir announces £40million investment scheme to boost farm efficiency and the environment
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, has announced that the Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme will open for applications on 21 July 2026.
Minister Muir said: “I am delighted to announce that the Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme will open on Tuesday 21 July, offering farmers grant aid of up to £25,000 for on-farm investment in equipment and technology.
“The scheme is a significant element within my Department’s Sustainable Agriculture Programme and expands the range of support available to underpin a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable farming sector.”
Support will focus on a pre-selected list of items to help farm businesses improve their environmental performance, animal health, and business efficiency. The scheme aims to support investment across all farming sectors.
The Minister highlighted the range of investments to be supported: “Eligible equipment will include options for the management of fruit, vegetables, crops, grassland and livestock, and for resource and slurry management.
“This includes a variety of precision and performance monitoring equipment, such as camera guided weed control, and heat and health detection devices.
“Investments ranging from £3,000 to £62,500 will be eligible for support under the scheme, with a grant rate of 40%.”
The eligible item list will be accessible as part of a simple online application system, which will be available when the scheme formally opens.
“Grants will be offered based on a reference price for each item, which means that applicants do not have to provide quotes as part of their application.
The Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme will be rolled out in a number of rounds over the next three to four years. This first round of the scheme will be open for 6 weeks, and applications must be received by 11.59pm on Thursday 3 September 2026.
More information on the scheme is available on the DAERA website at:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/sustainable-farming-investment-scheme.
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Muir publishes Northern Ireland’s first Tree Planting Action Plan
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has launched the Tree Planting Action Plan, setting out key actions to accelerate tree planting rates and support achieving 12% forest cover in Northern Ireland by 2050.
The Northern Ireland Tree Planting Action Plan: A Plan for Woodland Creation 2026 – 2032 reflects DAERA’s commitment to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss and will support delivery of priorities in the Programme for Government 2024-2027, Climate Action Plan and Environmental Improvement Plan.
The Action Plan consists of 10 strategic actions, supported by 31 implementing actions, which aim to improve governance and the implementation of tree planting measures, alongside increasing communication, knowledge transfer, education and capacity building, combined with a focus on building on our research and evidence base.
The action plan has been co-designed with a wide range of stakeholders including Woodland Trust, representatives of Confederation of Forest Industries (CONFOR), forestry companies, eNGOs, Ulster Farmers’ Union, NI Water, and local councils.
Minister Muir said: “From Tollymore, to Garvagh and Binevenagh, our forests add so much to our unique and cherished landscapes. Yet, despite our ambitions to increase woodland cover, we still have a long way to go.
“The launch of Northern Ireland’s first Tree Planting Action Plan comes at a critical juncture for nature and our climate. It aims to build on the aspirations of the Forests for Our Future programme and ensure we ramp up our efforts and address the factors inhibiting woodland expansion.
“More woodlands are essential to a shared and prosperous future, delivering improved air and water quality, natural carbon capture and flood management, and vital habitats for nature recovery. Forests and woodlands provide us with outdoor leisure opportunities and skilled jobs in rural areas. We all set to gain from ambitious afforestation.”
Minister Muir added: “Recognising the need to go further and faster to realise these benefits, I tasked officials to work with stakeholders to develop this plan.
“I am greatly encouraged by the sense of a shared vision and am grateful for the expertise and commitment given to the co-design process.
“Given the amount of agricultural land in Northern Ireland, farmers will play a key role in the action plan’s successful implementation.
“By raising awareness and improving understanding, we can build confidence that farm woodlands are valued assets and a viable land-use that can be integrated into Northern Ireland’s productive agricultural landscape, supporting economically sustainable farm enterprises.
“This plan is only the beginning. It is incumbent on us to keep working together to remove barriers and identify opportunities to ensure we plant trees in the right place. Together we can improve our environment for all of us and future generations to benefit from.”
The Tree Planting Action Plan 2026-2032 is available at:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/tree-planting-action-plan-2026-2032
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McMurray welcomes Tree Planting Action Plan
Andrew McMurray MLA has welcomed DAERA Minister Muir’s Tree Planting Action Plan, aimed at tackling barriers to increasing tree cover in Northern Ireland.
The Action Plan will actively identify new sites for woodland; work with landowners, farmers and others to encourage planting; and enhance resilience to better protect existing trees.
Mr McMurray said: “As a former outdoor instructor and a representative of a constituency with some of our most impressive landscapes and woodlands, I know all too well the benefits that we can all share from tree planting.
“Trees are critical to tackling both the climate and biodiversity crises, providing us with clean air and water, protection from flooding, wildlife habitats and carbon capture.
“Planting trees will also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and specialised jobs in rural communities like South Down. This move by the Minister is most welcome.
“Northern Ireland has some of the lowest woodland cover in Europe. My constituency has lost a significant number of mature trees in recent years as a result of storms, as have other parts of the country.
“With climate change, these severe storms will become a regular feature of our autumns and winters.
“Reaching our climate targets will require us to plant more trees, faster. I commend Minister Muir for launching this ambitious new action plan.
“It will tackle a number of barriers that have held tree planting back over the past couple of years. We must all work to see it actioned and ensure progress in increasing tree cover across Northern Ireland.”
