Pig farmers warned that grants are under threat as Defra is ‘rationalising’ spending
16th January 2025
The pig industry leaders have warned that important grant funding opportunities for livestock farmers might be under threat following the news that Defra will be “simplifying and rationalising” governmental support.
At the end of last year, Defra confirmed that a budget of £5 billion has been allocated for farming and the environment over the next two years.
“This is the largest amount ever dedicated to supporting sustainable food production and nature recovery.
“While this is the largest budget we’ve ever had, we still need to manage it carefully and focus spending on the areas where it can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature.
“[…] To ensure the funding can be prioritised to help build a sustainable farming sector, we’re simplifying and rationalising grant funding,” its spokesperson added.
READ MORE: Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak: UK bans livestock imports from Germany
A spokesperson for NPA said that at this stage, the full picture of the issue is still unknown.
“However, it is concerning that some of these important grant funding opportunities might be under threat.
“All of the grants are important, and pig producers have benefitted from many of them in recent years, but our biggest concern would be if there are no large infrastructure grants for pig farmers in 2025.
“Our expectations before the election were that, after cattle and poultry producers benefitted from the first two rounds, pig producers would be next, specifically to support the conversion of farrowing houses to higher welfare systems.
“These grants will be essential if pig producers are to be expected to move away from conventional farrowing systems.”
Read more livestock news.
