Grants & Funding

Over £14 million will be on offer in new competition rounds to develop innovative solutions in the farming sector as part of the government’s Farming Innovation Programme, Defra has announced yesterday (2nd August).

Livestock farmers will be able to apply for grants of up to £500,000 to improve cattle housing and boost productivity, with further grants being made available for purchasing equipment and technology as part of the government’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

With subsidy payments for farmers set to end this year, the Welsh government has announced the launch of an interim agri-environment scheme from 1st January 2024 to provide alternative support until the start of the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2025.

Small and medium-sized farm businesses will be able to apply for a share of £5 million to fund innovative ideas aimed at boosting sustainable food production, supporting nature recovery and driving progress towards net zero as a new competition launches later this month.

At the first ever ‘Nature for Finance’ event held at Downing Street yesterday (19th June), Defra announced further support for farmers to access private investment for nature recovery projects that deliver outcomes such as improved soil health and ecosystem services on farms to promote sustainable food production.

Farmers and rural businesses in the most remote areas will benefit from better access to wireless networks thanks to a £7 million fund announced today as part of government efforts to boost rural connectivity and encourage uptake of new technologies in agriculture.

The government has awarded £30 million in funding to over 50 innovative farming projects that will help agriculture move towards net zero, bolster food production and create more resilience and sustainability in the industry, an announcement has revealed today (Wednesday 31 May).

Under the second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme launched today (18th May), farmers and landowners can apply for a share of £15 million to create new wildlife habitats, restore protected sites and work towards reaching net zero alongside sustainable food production.

UK farmers who are currently transitioning to regenerative agriculture or are already farming in an environmentally friendly way are now able to access a new revenue stream through the AgreenaCarbon programme that aims to see producers rewarded for their regenerative efforts.

Biodiversity is an increasingly hot topic within the agricultural sector. Stuart Holm, arable farmer and outreach manager at the Woodland Trust, shares his approach to improving farm resilience and biodiversity on his land.

To reduce financial barriers for potato farmers transitioning to sustainable agricultural practices, McCain Foods, the largest manufacturer of frozen potato products in the UK, has joined forces with NatWest in offering financial support with the costs of switching to a regenerative farming system.

Farmers looking to apply for Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) funding are being reminded to seek approval from a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) in the next few weeks to ensure their application will be considered.