Grants & Funding News

Farming bosses worry about how the UK Pesticides National Action Plan (NAP) is going to be supported and delivered, especially without the SFI options.  

Cambridgeshire farmer John Pike has shared that he was “badly let down” by Defra’s Farming Recovery Fund, which was supposed to provide financial help to farmers impacted by severe weather in 2024. 

A farming roundtable organised by the NFU has met with food security and rural affairs minister Daniel Zeichner to explain the crushing impact of Defra’s decision to close the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and raise the urgent need for transparency from Defra.

The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) is calling on the government to introduce an interim scheme to assist farmers who are not currently enrolled in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

Defra’s transparency and its ability to deliver the agricultural transition have been questioned following the announcement that the department has stopped accepting new SFI applications.

Defra said that over 66,000 homes, businesses and farmland in rural areas will be protected from the devastating impacts of flooding and climate change thanks to a £2.65 billion investment.

The East Sussex-based farming and charcuterie business, Beal’s Farm, won a Defra research initiative to fund a feasibility study at farming and achieve net-zero results with its Mangalitsa pigs reared to produce British charcuterie products.

Farmers have been reminded that they can soon apply for a £400 heating grant from farming charity RABI.

Co-op has just announced a new £820,000 fund to support sustainable farming efforts. The investment will see farmers directly rewarded for their efforts in reducing carbon emissions and promoting nature on their farms across beef, lamb and dairy sectors as part of two new sustainability projects.

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. 

As of today, 94% of farmers from Wales have received their full or balance Basic Payment Scheme 2024 payment, the Welsh Government confirmed. 

The recent Budget announcements sent shockwaves through many rural businesses across the UK, with the latest data showing that the drastic reduction of the Basic Payment Scheme will have the biggest impact on farmers in less favoured areas.