Largest-ever farm productivity and innovation grant offer for England and Wales
For AIC Members providing advice to farmers in England, the largest-ever grant offer totalling £427 million was announced by the Prime Minister at the NFU Conference on 20 February.
This will invest £220 million in productivity and innovation in farming, £116 million in slurry infrastructure, and £91 million in improving the health and welfare of livestock under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).
To help in preparing for these grants, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will be hosting a webinar on 12 March 2024 about the FETF – Members can register for the event.
Full guidance on the Fund has been published ahead of the application window opening soon.
The grants for 2024 cover:
- 85 different items of productivity equipment, including 24 items not previously included in the grant offer.
- 17 different items of slurry equipment to improve the collection and spreading of slurry.
- 130 animal health and welfare items, including 29 new items.
On related matters, the Improving Farm Productivity grant, also part of the Farming Innovation Fund, is currently open for applications and covers robotics, automation and rooftop solar to build on-farm energy security.
Other Farming Investment Fund grants to look out for in 2024 are:
- The farming innovation programme (£70 million) – investing in innovation, research and development that benefits farmers, in England
- Adding Value Grant (£15 million) – for farmers who want to expand their farm operations into processing, packing and retailing
- Water Management Grants (£15 million) – for projects such as on-farm reservoirs and works to improve irrigation
Further grants relating to farm infrastructure that will benefit animal health and welfare are anticipated in 2024. These are expected to expand from the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare grant to include options for building new or upgrading existing housing for poultry and cattle farmers (with funding for pig farmers coming in in 2025).
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