Current and Upcoming Grants From Defra

Earlier this month, I joined a Defra webinar outlining the “once off” grants available to farmers. These are the grants to be aware of!

As part of the Farming Investment Fund:

There are 2 grants due to launch autumn/winter 2023:

• Robotics and automation grant.
• The solar grant which will fund solar panels/installations, for example on existing farm buildings.

​​​​​​​The Slurry Infrastructure Grant Round 2 should open before the end of 2023:

• There is more funding and Defra have expanded their target areas, meaning more farmers can hope to be accepted.
• More items will be included, for example slurry separators and storage for the dry matter from the separator and retrofit slurry store covers for existing stores.
• The application process has been updated to be easier, including an updated AHDB slurry wizard which is more flexible and better adapted to pig enterprises.
• Unfortunately, people who were refused in round 1 are not prioritised in round 2, but are encouraged to apply again as criteria have been relaxed.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​FETF grants will reopen early 2024, with 91 additional items to the slurry and productivity theme and 112 new items to the animal health and welfare theme.

• The Farming Innovation Programme is a competitive grant scheme funding collaborative R&D projects that must benefit farmers and growers in England. They run ongoing competitions and;
• Animal Health and Welfare Grants
  • -The Animal Health and Welfare review offers funded vet visits to review endemic diseases and any other issues on farm.  Applications for this grant are ongoing.
  • -The Calf Housing for Animal Health and Welfare grant offers funding for expanding or building new calf buildings.  The deadline for the first stage of this grant is the 30^th of November 2023.  Defra are looking to expand the grants to other livestock and adult cattle in the future.

Would you like to know more or be informed when any of these grants become available?  Please email Ellice at ellicehahne@fcgagric.com or Tel: 07944 680469.