Cash boost for robots on farms

Under the Countryside Productivity Grant, money is now available for investment in cutting edge technology and new equipment to improve farm productivity.

The grants are for a minimum of £35,000, so this may rule out some smaller producers. Applications are being encouraged from a variety of technological ideas and projects including the use of robotic equipment and systems to aid crop and livestock production, increasing the use of renewable energy produced on farm by improving energy storage and distribution, more efficient use of livestock slurries and manures and digestate and the use of LED wavelength-controlled lighting to aid crop production.

Example projects include:

• Dairy farmer investing in milking robots and robotic silage pusher;

• Horticultural business investing in a robotic weeder to carry out intra-row weeding;

• Dairy farmer purchase of slurry application equipment such as, in-line real-time nutrient sensor, flow metres and trailing shoe application system to fit to the existing slurry tanker;

• Farmer purchasing a battery storage facility to enable better use of renewable electricity produced on farm;

• A heat distribution network and associated equipment for the use of renewable heat generated on the farm, such as in glasshouses, pig or poultry buildings and for crop drying.

Successful applicants for the competitive scheme will have up to 40 per cent of the eligible costs of their project covered by the grant. However, the minimum grant on offer is £35,000, meaning the total investment must be at least £87,500.

Applications can be submitted now, with the deadline for applications set for December 3, 2018. It is advised that interested parties act as soon as possible.

Under the grant, money is also available for adding value to agri-food products.

These grants are to improve the processing of primary agricultural products to shorten supply chains and deliver benefits to primary producers. Projects must be for the processing of agri-food products only, including meat, milk, grain, fruit and vegetables.

Grant funding can help pay for equipment and machinery and constructing or improving buildings associated with all aspects of processing. Deadline for expressions of interest is June 29, 2018.

Defra suggests that farmers looking for grant support for smaller projects should investigate the opportunities provided by LEADER funding. This again provides a maximum of a 40 per cent grant, but grants are available for £2,500 to £50,000 depending on your geographical area.

Josie Nott is a Rural Chartered Surveyor at Halls