As we reported last week, a new system of farm payments, the Agri-Environment Scheme, was launched on Thursday.

This replaces the old ADS system of farm payments, which were on a per acre basis, with a list of initiatives that can be claimed for.

This new scheme is aimed at benefiting both farm efficiency and the environment.

But what exactly are these initiatives and why are farmers being encouraged to do them?

We take a look at some of the elements in the new scheme.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture worked closely with the farming industry to evolve the new payment system and Manx NFU president Tim Johnston said: ’Where the real success will come is where there’s that close correlation between farm efficiency and it also directly improves the environment as well.

’They’re the areas where there’ll be the main take up at this stage.

’Also growing more cover crops for birds, for shelter, and using our stubbles in the winter, again for birds: these are the areas where I think there is a lot of potential.’

Leaving the stubbles after combining at harvest time will provide foraging and feeding areas for birds such as yellowhammer, skylark, flocks of finches and tree and house sparrows.

Winter fodder crops, such as rape, kale and turnips, will also benefit them.

Cover crops, including rye, barley and mustard, will help to prevent soil erosion and nutrient leaching.

Two elements of the new scheme, putting in place a manure management plan and a crop nutrient management plan, are what Tim describes as ’box tickers’ for farmers as many of them will have these in place already.

Both are aimed at increasing farm efficiency whilst benefitting the environment by reducing the amount of nutrients and pollutants escaping into our rivers and water courses.

Nitrates in our waterways, for example, can come from land run off containing artificial fertiliser and farm slurry spreading.

Slurries and manures are a valuable source of nutrients to promote plant growth on the farm and if used optimally, reduce the need for artificial fertilisers.

Clearly, proper management of these resources will also increase farm efficiency.

It will also be eligible for payments under the new scheme as will the spreading of lime.

Mr Johnston said: ’If you take for example liming and the importance of getting lime onto the ground, getting the right Ph for the soil, that’s positive for the farm business because it means that it’s more efficient, giving better more fertile growth.

’At the same times it means that the ground absorbs nutrients more efficiently which also is good for the environment.’

There are also payments available towards the cost of soil sampling and testing, to match fertiliser use to crop need, so optimising the use of nutrients whilst maximising returns to the farmer.

Payments for growing traditional cereal crops - spring wheat, spring barley, oats or rye - are subject to farmers using low inputs of fertiliser and no herbicides or insecticides.

Farmers can also apply for conversion funding if they want to go organic.

Other initiatives in the new scheme include those relating to creating or enhancing habitats for wildlife.

Building and repairing dry stone walls will not only shelter livestock but also provide a nesting habitat for wheatears and wagtails and give warmth and shelter to lizards and butterflies.

Planting hedgerows and building, rebuilding or repairing Manx sod banks will provide a nesting habitat for many birds including robins and wrens, give warmth and support particular wildflower species such as harebell, primroses and sheep’s bit scabious.

Initiatives such as these, along with tree planting and creation of new ponds, will require the farmer to outlay what may be a substantial amount of the cash to carry out the work before he can claim some of it back under the new scheme.

As Manx NFU secretary Andy Cooper points out: ’Those farmers with a healthy cash flow already can probably invest in these areas but the ones who are just starting out will struggle to find the capital.

’Those [elements of the scheme] that I’d suppose you’d say are ones that are "nice to have", such as bat boxes, bird boxes, educational visits, planting trees are only going to be undertaken by someone who’s already a reasonably successful farmer, probably already doing the rest of it anyway.

’It’s payment by results so the farmer does have to be able to fund all this work himself and once the work is completed they can then claim a percentage of the whole cost depending on which scheme it is.’

l You can find full details of the new scheme and application forms at https://www.gov.im/afgs/aes