This is a short post to let you know that we’ve now fully allocated all available funding for the 2025 round of Capital Grants.
With over 8,000 applications submitted in under 5 weeks, this is the fastest uptake ever for the offer and shows a clear appetite from the sector to transition towards nature-friendly farming.
Having thresholds in place for this round means more farmers have been able to access funding to support their efforts to deliver for nature.
As part of our ongoing commitment towards improving transparency, we provided an update of uptake levels when 50% and 75% of funding was allocated. We did this to raise awareness of when application windows for funding opportunities were likely to close, and to support you with your business planning.
The high level of interest has been encouraging and shows how committed farmers are to improving their land, protecting the environment, and investing in a more sustainable future for farming.
What this means for you
If your application requires supporting information (such as a map) and you haven’t already submitted it, you can and should do so as soon as possible.
The Capital Grant finder has details of the evidence required for each item.
Your application cannot move to the next stage of assessment until the necessary supporting information is received.
If the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) does not receive the required evidence within 10 working days of requesting it, your application will be rejected.
While eligible applications are considered, funding cannot be guaranteed.
The RPA will contact you directly with the outcome once your application has been processed.
If you started your application but didn’t submit it, unfortunately you won’t be able to continue.
There may be some exceptions for applicants who were unable to submit their application and contacted the RPA for help. The RPA will review these cases individually and be in touch.
If your application is approved, you will get your money once the work has concluded and you submit your claim for payment, and any necessary evidence, within the given timeframe. The Capital Grant will reimburse you for the pre-agreed amount to complete the eligible works.
We plan to make further improvements to the offer for future rounds. We expect to open a new round for farmers to access more funding during 2026.
Benefiting farming and nature
We’re looking forward to seeing the outcomes of these grants over time and the lasting benefits they’ll bring to farms, nature, and the wider environment.
In this round, items that support improvements to water quality attracted the most interest. This funding will go towards farm upgrades such as yard roofing and fencing, helping reduce runoff and keeping livestock out of watercourses.
This round of funding will also support farmers’ efforts to:
- enhance biodiversity with grants for hedgerow planting and laying, creating and restoring important habitats for wildlife.
- promote sustainable farming practices by funding practical environmental improvements, such as planting shelterbelts to improve air quality benefiting both nature and long-term farm resilience.
The wider offer
The government’s New Deal for Farmers is designed to support growth and return farm businesses to profitability.
Over the next 4 years, funding for Environmental Land Management schemes, paid directly to farmers, will increase 150% from £800 million in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29. A record £11.8 billion for sustainable farming and food production is being invested over this parliament.
You can access the following funding now:
Looking ahead, we will:
- open the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme in September to those who have been invited to apply
- provide an update on the Sustainable Farming Incentive reformed offer
- produce a Farming Roadmap to show how we can transition towards nature-friendly farming. It will reflect the recommendations from Baroness Batters’ Profitability Review and be developed with the sector, guiding us forward together
- allocate £46.7 million from the recently closed Farming Equipment & Technology Fund (FETF) to help farmers invest in productivity-boosting equipment, manage slurry more efficiently, and support animal health and welfare
- announce the first projects backed by our ADOPT programme, which remains open until 2026. It will fund on-farm trials of innovative technologies and practices
- continue introducing regulations to improve fairness in the eggs and fresh produce supply chains, which follows the pig and dairy sector
- review the combinable crop supply chain to help protect arable farm businesses from unfair practices
- agree a SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal with the European Union to make trade in agri-food with our largest market easier and cheaper for British producers
To receive the latest information from the Farming and Countryside Programme, subscribe to the Farming blog.
11 comments
Comment by cHARLEs posted on
Are higher tier capital grants still open then? Not clear from reading this.
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Charles,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, Higher Tier Capital Grants are still open. This scheme offers a selection of specialist Higher Tier capital items to help support our most environmentally significant sites and woodlands. Higher Tier Capital Grants offer 3-year agreements for capital items. They provide additional environmental benefits without the need for a CS Higher Tier agreement.
However, you do need to discuss this type of grant application with a Natural England adviser before you submit it. They will help you to apply for the capital items best suited to your needs. Please email enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk and include ‘Standalone Higher Tier Capital Grants Query for Natural England’ in the email subject heading. A Natural England adviser will then call you or email you.
Full applicant's guide for Higher Tier Capital Grants can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-tier-capital-grants-2025/applicants-guide-higher-tier-capital-grants-2025
Hope that helps,
The Team
Comment by David Morley posted on
We have an application that could not be submitted because we are still waiting for the RPA to close down an old expired agreement (dating back to 2022). Will we be able to submit this once the RPA has completed the manual close down of the old agreement?
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi David,
Thanks for your comment. Generally, we don't accept applications once the offer has closed however there may be some exceptions to this. If you were unable to submit your application because you have an expired agreement blocking your application and you sought assistance from the RPA to enable you to submit it, the RPA will be contacting you.
Best wishes,
The Team
Comment by Dorinda Jones posted on
I only have 4 acres but wish to plant more native hedges and I’m not sure if I am big enough to apply for a grant.
I used to be on the stewardship thing but when it ended I don’t know if I’m able to apply
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Dorinda,
Thanks for getting in touch. The 2025 round of Capital Grants is now closed. We expect to open a new round in 2026.
When it does re-open, you should be eligible to apply as long as your land parcels are entirely within England, and you have management control of those parcels. There is no minimum land/application size. If you subscribe to the farming blog, you'll be notified as soon as we have any further updates: https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/subscribe/
Hope that helps,
The Team
Comment by Richard Swancott posted on
Hello,
I submitted my Capital Grants application on Friday 31st July. I know there is a 10 day window to submit the supporting evidence; maps in my case. I am a numpty with computers and so while I can fill in and submit the application, I need help to send the maps. They have to be scanned and formed into a PDF which is beyond me.
So my question is: the application was submitted one day before the closure of the scheme and the supporting documents have been emailed one day after the closure, is my application 'in time'?
Many thanks,
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Richard,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, if you submitted your application before Capital Grants closed, then your application was submitted in time. The Rural Payments Agency will contact you to ask you to submit your map. If you need any help with this, you can contact them through their helpline: 03000 200 301. If you cannot print the map, you can also call them, or use MAGIC maps on GOV.UK: https://magic.defra.gov.uk/home.htm
The full guidance, explaining how to send maps as supporting evidence, is here in section 10.1: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-grants-2025/how-to-complete-your-online-capital-grants-2025-application-closed#annex-1--supporting-maps:~:text=10.1%20Create%20your%20maps
Hope that helps,
The Team
Comment by Richard Swancott posted on
Thnk you!
Comment by Erin posted on
When will we hear if our capital grant application has been successful?
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Erin,
Thanks for getting in touch. We are reviewing all Capital Grants 2025 applications submitted before the point of closure. We will tell you the outcome of your application as soon as we can. If your application is unsuccessful, we will tell you why.
If your application is successful, we will send you an agreement offer. You must only start your capital works (this includes purchasing materials) on or after your agreement’s start date. We will not pay for materials or capital works done before this date.
Hope that helps,
The Team