Less than a third of the 932 applicants to the latest tranche of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) higher level will receive letters of offer, a DAERA spokesperson has said.

“These have been ranked according to the highest environmental benefit and approximately 300 letters of offer will be made to achieve an orderly uptake in line with previous year intakes,” a statement issued on Tuesday reads.

The high rejection rate in the third tranche of EFS higher level was described as “pathetic” by Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) deputy president Victor Chestnutt.

“DAERA are very quick to point out the environmental concerns relating to agriculture but when farmers step up to address the challenge, they are turned away,” he said.

On enquiry, a DAERA spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal that a fourth tranche of both the higher and wider levels of EFS will open next year.

EFS higher level is predominantly for land in environmentally designated areas, whereas EFS wider level is for agri-environment measures on all types of farmland.

DAERA has previously said that a third tranche of EFS wider level will open for applications in mid-August.

The UFU is calling for all eligible applicants for the fourth tranche of EFS next year to be offered a scheme agreement.