Your Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire county NFU update

Water Resources East have just launched a Water Resilience Grant which is open to agricultural and horticultural businesses across Cambridgeshire.

Grants of up to £50,000 are available to help reduce the use of abstracted water and consumption of public water supplies (’mains water’). Funding can cover up to 50% of eligible project costs. Example projects could be rainwater harvesting, irrigation controllers, precision irrigation technology etc. The scheme is also open to innovative water saving and efficiency projects. 

Scheme Overview

• Location: Projects must be located within Cambridgeshire
• Project Aims: Projects that improve water use efficiency e.g. rainwater harvesting, soil moisture sensors, irrigation controllers etc.
• Open to: Agricultural and horticultural businesses operating within Cambridgeshire
• Grant value: £2,000–£50,000
• Funding contribution: Up to 50% of eligible project costs, paid after costs have been incurred and claimed
• Match funding required: 50%
• Total funding available: £1.3 million
• Funding provided by: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) via Cambridgeshire County Council

 Information about the grant including the guidance, FAQs and application form, can be found on the grant webpage.

Join Philip Wright for practical advice on boosting your soil health, tillage and nutrients availability to nail those autumn crops.

Join us at Manor Farm, courtesy of Jack Cook, for a collaborative event organised by Anglian Water. As growers continue to face the challenges of climate change, prolonged dry periods, and increasing pressure on soil health and crop resilience, this practical event will focus on improving land performance through effective soil structure repair, reduced tillage, and maximised nutrient availability for autumn crops. Through a combination of field-based demonstrations and expert discussion, you'll learn how to build more resilient soils, improve water infiltration and moisture retention, boost crop yield, cut long-term costs, and make confident autumn decisions with the latest insights on sustainable soil and nutrient management, and the latest updates on regulations around organic manure applications—all with actionable advice you can apply straight away.

Skanska UK have confirmed that Barford Road will be closed for the realignment of the carriageway over the new bridge between Monday 27 July 8:00am and Friday 21 August 4:00pm. We’ve been told by the constructors that farmers with fields directly affected by the closure have all be contacted and methods of communication established to ensure access is accommodated wherever possible. However everyone else will need to make use of the diversion onto the A1. We have expressed concern that with so many agricultural vehicle movements during harvest this is not a great time to close the road. If this is a route you use please be aware that the closure is happening and make allowances for the additional time needed for the diversion.

The local Safer Neighbourhood Team invite you to “Coffee with a Cop” on the following dates

Saturday 27 June 10:00 - 12:00 Milton Earnest Garden Centre MK44 1SH

Wednesday 15 July 10:00 - 12:00 Em's Bistro, Emmaus Village Carlton, MK43 7LQ

Saturday 22 August 10:00-12:00 Milton Earnest Garden Centre MK44 1SH

Please take these opportunities to raise any concerns you may have and to find out what the police are doing to tackle the issues that matter to you