The European Commission has been asked to approve proposals for a new agri-environment scheme called Environmental Stewardship.

Proposals for the scheme include an organic strand which will pay organic farmers £30 a hectare for carrying out specific environmental management options on their farm, as well as an additional £30 a ha in recognition of the significant additional environmental benefits that organic farming provides.

Environmental Stewardship has been developed in response to recommendations made by the Policy Commission on the future of farming and food and has involved a high level of public consultation and a significant contribution from stakeholder organisations. The scheme is made up of three elements, Entry Level Stewardship (ELS), Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS), Higher Level Stewardship (HLS).

Minister of State for environment and agri-environment Elliott Morley said: "Environmental Stewardship is good news for farmers and for the environment. ELS, which will build on the successful pilot scheme, will mean that many more farmers have a chance to join the scheme, and that agri-environment schemes can start to make a real difference to the countryside as a whole. We expect the organic strand of ELS to give many more farmers the confidence needed to stay in or enter organic farming, which will deliver further environmental gains. HLS builds on the solid foundation of our existing schemes to produce one of the most flexible and outcome-focused agri-environment schemes in Europe."

Final details of the new scheme will be made available immediately prior to the launch in 2005. Application packs will not be available until the launch of the scheme.