NICMS
It is a voluntary scheme that provides financial support to farmers and landowners for adopting farming practices that enhance our countryside. NICMS aims to:
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Full details of the scheme are found in the NICMS Information Booklet
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The NI Countryside Management Scheme, together with the Organic Farming Scheme, is funded under Axis 2 of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013
(RDP) and part-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
The target is to maintain 42 percent of agricultural land under environmental enhancement agreement by 2013.
Who can apply?
NICMS is open to all farmers and land managers with a Business Identification Number (Business ID) and with at least three hectares of eligible land in NI.What funding is available?
Annual payments vary according to farm size, the farmland habitats and historic monuments that are present and the areas or length of habitat. What happened to scheme applications received in 2010?
Approximately 4800 applications were received in 2010 and funding is available to progress around 2300 of these applications to agreement stage by the end of 2013. All eligible applications will be prioritised based on environmental benefit using a set of criteria and applicants will be contacted in due course regarding the status of their application.
When can I apply?
NICMS is not currently open to applications
For more information read the pages on Agri-Environment schemes and Countryside Management.

