Diversification and Grants

Being in regular communication with the Rural Payments Agency, Natural England and other Rural Business Hubs ensures that we are always up to date and aware of the latest and potential grant funding opportunities that may become available to our clients.

We have been involved in many different grant schemes and applications, from funding towards cattle handling systems to converting buildings for holiday lets. In a period of great change for agricultural and rural funding, we are constantly analysing our client’s potential projects for suitable grant schemes that might help them take that next step and develop those ideas into real life.

Farming Investment Fund

This grant scheme covers different elements of improving farm productivity and maximising the use of natural capital and inputs on farms. There are currently no open grants available under the scheme, but additional rounds of the following are expected, and FCG are quick to notify clients when this is.

• Slurry Infrastructure Grant (Applications closed 31st January 2023)

• Adding Value (Currently closed for applications but further round expected 2023/2024)

• Water Management (Currently closed for applications but further round expected 2023/2024)

• Improving Farm Productivity (Currently closed for applications but further round expected 2023/2024)

Farm Equipment and Technology Fund

This provides funding for capital items to improve efficiency and productivity on farms.

Details have been released for the Farm Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) Round 2 with up to £50,000 worth of funding available (£25,000 of items under the ‘Productivity and Slurry Items’ theme and £25,000 of items under the ‘Animal Health and Welfare’ theme).

The RPA have announced that the ‘Productivity and Slurry Items’ theme application window will open at the end of February 2023, with items available including:

Farming In Protected Landscapes

Provides funding to farmers and landowners within National Parks and AONBs who are planning projects that:
• support nature recovery
• mitigate climate change
• provide opportunities for people to discover nature
• protect or improve the quality and character of the landscape
The programme will run until March 2024.

The ‘Animal Health and Welfare’ theme will open for applications in March 2023, with items available including:

Previous applicants of the Farm Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) Round 1 can apply again this year.

Other future schemes

Grant funding opportunities are plentiful and we can see this continuing and contributing to the changes in the agricultural landscape in the coming years, and FCG Consultants will no doubt continue to be involved in lots of exciting projects and ensuring our clients are taking full advantage of these.

To contact your local FCG office, please click here