Grants & Funding News

Farmers and horticulture growers are being encouraged to apply for a grant through Defra’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) before the final deadline. 

A fund to help farmers affected by flooding has just been launched. The Farming Recovery Fund is set to support farmers who suffered uninsurable damage to their land due to flooding earlier this year.

Farm and estate property consultancy Carter Jonas has called for clarity over the tax treatment of land put into environmental schemes.

Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is calling for the flood fund to open as soon as possible following farmers fears for the 2024 harvest after one of the wettest and stormiest winters in decades. 

Defra has just announced a significant uplift in England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) payments. This means that farmers can now receive up to £11,600 per hectare for planting woodland, following a 45% increase. 

As the government opens up new rounds of FETF funding this spring, we take a look at what farmers can apply for now, as well as future dates to keep in the diary.

Northern Ireland’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, has recently announced the opening of the £267 million Single Application and Map Service, along with the Entitlements Transfer Service. 

From today (14th March) Farmers have been encouraged to claim Countryside Stewardship (CS) revenue and Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreement payments promptly.

The Royal Countryside Fund, founded by the King, has announced a donation of almost £450,000 in grants for farmers and support for rural initiatives across the country. 

Suffolk farmers were invited to a roundtable event by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), where they heard the latest on available schemes and grants – and shared concerns about the level of financial support for food production versus environmental management. Sarah Kidby attended.

With uncertainty over what government help will be available in 2024, making use of existing slurry grants to improve storage, management and to cover slurry is being advocated by industry specialist Tramspread.

A recent Defra webinar on funding for grassland and livestock saw farmers question the funding available for low input grassland, species rich grassland and good quality semi-improved grassland options under the SFI.