The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has allocated nearly US$363,000 in funding to support commercial apple orchards in County Armagh during the 2025 season.
Armagh, often referred to as the Orchard County, is home to the PGI-protected Armagh Bramley Apple, one of only three Northern Irish products with this European designation. The region's annual apple harvest is closely tied to both local production and associated events such as the Food and Cider Festival.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir confirmed that land registered for commercial apple production remains eligible for financial support under the Farm Sustainability Transition Payment (FSTP). "On 1 September 2025, my department commenced 2025 FSTP payments to farm businesses. A total of £299,388 will be paid against land in County Armagh registered for use as commercial orchards. This includes payments to commercial apple growers," he said.
The FSTP will transition into the Farm Sustainability Payment within the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP) in 2026. Additional funding has also been made available for promotional activities. Over the past decade, £123,758 (US$150,000) has been awarded to projects delivered through the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme (NIRFP), supporting initiatives linked to the Armagh Bramley Apple and the Food and Cider Weekend. For 2025, the festival received £14,100 (US$17,100) through this programme.
Minister Muir added that the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) continues to provide technical support to the sector. "This support includes disseminating modelling reports to growers on the influence of environmental conditions on pest and disease risk. CAFRE's Loughry Campus also helps the top-fruit industry by providing technical support, advice, and training related to the processing and packaging of apples and apple products," he said.
Further assistance is planned through the Horticulture Pilot Scheme, which is part of the SAP and open to commercial apple growers with a Category 1 or 2 Farm Business ID. The scheme includes the Sustainable Sector Growth Groups pilot, Growers' Training and Support pilot, and the Innovation Driver and Support pilot. Applications for two of these sub-schemes will open on 31 October 2025.
DAERA is also developing the Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme, intended to provide financial support for equipment and technology aimed at improving environmental performance and business efficiency across primary production sectors, including apple growers.
Source: ArmagHi