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More farmers have applied to the third tranche of the wider level Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) than in the previous two tranches.
On enquiry, DAERA confirmed that it has received 2,031 applications to the third tranche of the scheme, which closed on 20 September.
In the first tranche of the wider-level scheme, which opened in 2017, a total of 1,435 applied, and there are currently 1,004 agreement holders.
In the second tranche in 2018, there were 1,639 applications, with 1,398 eventually accepted onto the scheme.
That means, in total across the first two tranches there are 2,402 agreement holders.
A spokesperson for the Department confirmed that the target is to have 4,200 wider agreements in place.
Assuming that around 80% of applicants eventually sign agreements this time around (after eligibility checks, etc), that would leave slightly over 4,000 in the wider scheme across the first three tranches. The Department has previously confirmed that it would open a fourth tranche next year.
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