New funding opportunities for farmers – How to maximise benefits
By Andrew Heskin, Partner and ARA specialist
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) Secretary Steve Barclay recently announced a significant funding boost for UK farmers. This £45m package aims to enhance efficiency and productivity in the farming sector.
Key components of the funding
Improving Farming Productivity Grant – This grant forms the bulk of the package, offering £30 million in its second round. It provides capital grants ranging from £25,000 to £500,000, focusing on robotic and automatic equipment. The possibility of additional funding exists, subject to interest levels.
Solar equipment funding – For the first time, Defra will offer grants between £15,000 and £100,000 for solar equipment, marking a significant step towards sustainable farming practices.
Large R&D partnership – Almost £8 million is available in the third round of this funding, encouraging industrial research and experimental development projects in agriculture.
Research starter round 4 – This funding, with an allocation of £850,000, seeks to identify new agricultural solutions, fostering innovation in the sector.
Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) – The third round of NEIRF includes individual grants of up to £100,000 from a total of £5 million, designed to support farmers in preparing nature projects that attract private sector investment.
How can our firm assist you?
We specialise in supporting businesses from a wide array of sectors, including the agriculture industry, in applying and securing grants. At the heart of this service is our Grant Services Manager, Janet Brown. Janet has been with Moore Thompson since 2016 and has a long and successful track record of securing grants for local businesses and communities.
With the help of Janet and her team, we can assist with:
- Customised funding research
- Advice on relevant funding and grant opportunities
- The application process
- Bid writing
- Funding application reviews
- Financial claims and project management
Your next step
The announcement by Mr Barclay represents a significant opportunity for farmers. We encourage you to take advantage of this funding to innovate, become more efficient, and contribute to a sustainable future.
Contact us today to discuss how we can support you in applying for and utilising these grants to transform your farming business.