Defra has today launched a small grants scheme as part of its revisions to the Rural Development Programme for England.
The Farm and Forestry Improvement Scheme has a budget of £20m and will be open for grant applications from £2,500 to a maximum of £25,000. Focusing on themes including nutrient management, energy efficiency, water harvesting and animal health, funding rounds will run for an eight to nine week window.
The first round of project applications will open at 9am on November 16 and close at 6pm on January 17 2012.
Following the transition of delivery from Regional Development Agencies to Defra (details), this announcement marks a re-opening of the programme in many areas of England.
More information on the scheme and applicants guidance notes can be found here.
NFU comment
NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: “Today’s announcement is a timely reminder that rural development funding can be used productively. It actively helps farmers gear up for the market and can be used to encourage greater efficiency. It sounds like efforts have been made to break down some of the barriers to Rural Development funding and to simplify the application process for grants. Certainly, the common and consistent approach across England will be appreciated by farmers who previously faced something of a postcode lottery in applying for grant support through the old regional structure.
“Critically, this new scheme will encourage investment on-farm to help farmers to do what they are being called on to do – produce more food while dealing with the many future challenges they face including energy and water efficiency.
“Today’s announcement is undoubtedly a positive for farmers and will mark the first of several revisions to Rural Development Programme delivery in England. We hope this is a pointer to the simplicity, commonality and productivity focus we can expect from Defra to advocate in CAP reform negotiations.
“It is worth remembering that rural development expenditure in the UK is still dwarfed by the focus on agri-environment measures. Much of the coverage of the future of CAP has focused on Pillar One and its greening measures but we mustn’t forget the need for a more balanced use of EU rural development funds allocated through the Second Pillar in future.”
- Ian Bedford - 03/02/2012
Will the Farming Improvement Grant be re-opened for new applications in 2012?