A pilot farm environmental study (FES) is to be rolled out next year and will generate a database of baseline habitat and biodiversity data at farm level. The Department of Agriculture aims to survey 8,000 farms in the second quarter of next year and farmers will be paid €200 for participating in the survey. The survey will provide the farmer with an inventory of habitats, biodiversity and environmental information about his/her own farm. The Department said that this information will then be presented to the farmer as part of the knowledge transfer element in order to educate and empower the farmer to farm in a way that is sensitive to nature on the individual farm.