Clock is ticking, so apply for these grants now
With the government guaranteeing to fund RDPE Countryside Productivity Scheme grants agreed and signed before the UK’s departure from the EU, farmers are advised to consider applying now, as funds are limited.
The RDPE Countryside Productivity Scheme provides funding for projects in England which improve productivity in the farming and forestry sectors and help create jobs and growth in the rural economy. The grants are funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
The grants are for a minimum of £35,000 (or if you are located in Shropshire north of the M54/A5, this drops to £20,000) and can cover up to 40 per cent of the eligible costs of a project. These grants are to improve farm productivity through:
• the use of robotic equipment to aid crop and livestock production
• increasing the use of renewable energy produced on farm by improving energy storage and distribution
• the use of LED wavelength controlled lighting to aid crop production
• more efficient use of livestock slurries, manures and digestate
The grants CANNOT be used to generate renewable energy, buy irrigation equipment, fund equipment for processing and packing of fruit or vegetables, crop storage or to fund anaerobic digesters
All applications are assessed to see how well they fit the priorities for funding and which projects provide best value for taxpayers’ money.
Examples of eligible projects include:
• Robotic milkers to improve efficiency on a dairy farm
• Robotic weeders for intra row weeding on a horticultural unit
• Slurry application equipment such as inline nutrient sensor, flow meters and trailing shoe application system to fit to an existing slurry tanker to reduce fertiliser usage and emissions
• Advanced digestate processing system for an existing aerobic digester
• Heat distribution equipment and innovative ventilation system on a poultry farm
• Battery storage facility to enable energy from an existing solar panel installation to be used at night
The RPA will study each application carefully so see how best they meet the following priorities: to improve productivity, enhance resilience, improve efficiency, introduce innovation, grow the business and encourage collaboration and partnerships.”
Application forms can be downloaded from the Gov.UK. To apply you need to be registered on RPA’s Rural Payments service and have a Single Business Identifier number.
Sarah Wedge is at the Oswestry office of Davis Meade Property Consultants
