The Farming Investment Fund is now open for applications.

Grants are now available to help improve farm productivity and enhance the natural environment. The fund is split into two parts:

• - Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
• - Farming Transformation Fund

All farmers, growers and foresters (including contractors) who are involved in the production or processing of agricultural, horticultural or forestry products, who are based in England, are eligible to apply.

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund

This fund is based on the previous Countryside Productivity Small Grant Scheme, however, this year new items have been added to the list. Grants are available from £2,000 up to a maximum of £25,000 from 120 individual items listed within the headings below.

• - Resource Management Items (e.g., slurry handling equipment)
• - Precision and Analysis Items (e.g., direct drills 3 & 6 metres)
• - Livestock Handling and Weighing Items (e.g., cattle & sheep handling systems)
• - Other Livestock Items (e.g., robotic silage pusher)
• - General Items (e.g., cover crop rollers 3 & 6 metres)
• - Forestry Items (e.g., self-propelled forwarder)
• - Horticulture Items (e.g., in row weeders)

The applications window for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund will close on 7th of January 2022.

Farming Transformation Fund

This fund is aimed at larger scale investments to help businesses improve productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability. The minimum grant you can apply for is £35,000 up to a maximum of £500,000, covering up to 40% of the eligible costs of the project.  The fund has three focused themes.

• - Water Management – providing funding for arable and horticultural businesses to improve the efficiency of their water use.
• - Improving Farm Productivity – providing funding for larger scale projects to improve efficiency and farm innovation.
• - Adding Value – providing funding for equipment used for the processing of agricultural products.

The Water Management theme is now open for applications.  The Improving Farm Productivity and Adding Value themes will open soon.

For more information about current and future grants please contact the George F. White Farm team on 0333 920 2220.