The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has detailed conditionalities for the Farm Sustainability Payment (FSP), part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme launching on 1 January 2026. These requirements support farm resilience, soil health, genetic improvement, carbon reduction, emissions cuts, habitats, and biodiversity. Farm businesses must comply to receive full payments.

To claim FSP in 2026, businesses need management control of eligible land. Those operating before 31 December 2021 must meet Historic Years requirements. Initial conditionalities require participation in the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) and the Bovine Genetics Project for farms with bovine animals.

SNHS, rolled out across Northern Ireland over four years and closed to new applications, mandates registration and training completion by 15 May 2027, the single application form deadline. Unregistered farms can express interest for soil testing by emailing snhs@daera-ni.gov.uk with Farm Business ID and field list by 8 September 2025.

Non-compliance with SNHS results in a 10 percent FSP penalty in 2027, increasing to 15 percent in 2028 and beyond until resolved. The Bovine Genetics Project requires registration from September 2026 via the Sustainable Ruminant Genetics portal and training by 15 May 2028, offered online and in-person by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).

Penalties for Bovine Genetics non-compliance start at 10 percent of FSP in 2028, rising to 15 percent in 2029 and continuing thereafter. Participation in the Carbon Footprinting Project is planned as a future conditionality, with timeline pending agreement.

Penalties apply per scheme concurrently, linked to the farm business ID. A named individual tied to the ID must complete registration and training. Further details are available via email at agriculturalandenvironmentalschemes@daera-ni.gov.uk or by calling 0300 200 7848.