Grants & Funding

Farmers and rural businesses in the most remote areas will benefit from better access to wireless networks thanks to a £7 million fund announced today as part of government efforts to boost rural connectivity and encourage uptake of new technologies in agriculture.

The government has awarded £30 million in funding to over 50 innovative farming projects that will help agriculture move towards net zero, bolster food production and create more resilience and sustainability in the industry, an announcement has revealed today (Wednesday 31 May).

Under the second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme launched today (18th May), farmers and landowners can apply for a share of £15 million to create new wildlife habitats, restore protected sites and work towards reaching net zero alongside sustainable food production.

UK farmers who are currently transitioning to regenerative agriculture or are already farming in an environmentally friendly way are now able to access a new revenue stream through the AgreenaCarbon programme that aims to see producers rewarded for their regenerative efforts.

Biodiversity is an increasingly hot topic within the agricultural sector. Stuart Holm, arable farmer and outreach manager at the Woodland Trust, shares his approach to improving farm resilience and biodiversity on his land.

To reduce financial barriers for potato farmers transitioning to sustainable agricultural practices, McCain Foods, the largest manufacturer of frozen potato products in the UK, has joined forces with NatWest in offering financial support with the costs of switching to a regenerative farming system.

Farmers looking to apply for Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) funding are being reminded to seek approval from a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) in the next few weeks to ensure their application will be considered.

Farmers can now apply for this year’s round of Severn Trent’s Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS) match funding, offering up to £30,000 for farms in priority catchment areas to invest in improving water quality.

Rural communities across England are set to benefit from £110 million funding under the Rural England Prosperity Fund, aimed at supporting local businesses and community organisations, creating jobs and boosting productivity and prosperity in the countryside, the government announced on 7th April.

The government revealed additional funding will go towards helping farmers better manage slurry storage and store and use water more efficiently as part of the new Plan for Water announced yesterday (4th April).

Rural land and property specialists GSC Grays believe some farms could be better off under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme and urged farmers to consider transitioning to a regenerative farming system.

Three cutting-edge projects relating to robotics and automation will receive a share of £9.13 million through the government’s Farming Innovation Programme, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, sustainability and climate resilience.