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The Smaller Abattoir Fund: increase in intervention rate and grant amount

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme

In December, we shared details of a new capital grant to support smaller abattoirs in England, offered through the Smaller Abattoir Fund . To recognise the cash flow challenges that many smaller abattoirs face, we’re increasing this support. We’ve raised the intervention rate from 40% to 50% and we’ve increased the maximum grant amount from £60,000 to £75,000. 

Introducing Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare grants

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments to improve animal health and welfare
Chickens

Next month, a new grant for hen housing will be available to laying hen and pullet farmers in England with flocks of 1,000 birds or more. We've just published the guidance for the grant on GOV.UK. In this post we’ll share an overview of the grant and a link to the guidance.

Funding available for nutrient management solutions

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for research and innovation, Payments to improve soil health
Farmer walks across field under grey and blue skies

Through the £15 million Nutrient Management competition, we’re offering funding to develop solutions which address the challenges related to nutrient management in soils and water associated with agricultural livestock and crop production. In this post, I'll share links to the guidance so you can prepare for the competition opening on 29 May.

Landscape Recovery: The Waveney and Little Ouse Recovery Project 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments to restore landscapes and ecosystems
The River Waveney Floodplain shot from above.

Our project, the Waveney and Little Ouse Landscape Recovery Project, sits on the headwaters of the 2 rivers, covering over 1,600 hectares between the towns of Diss on the Waveney and Thetford on the Little Ouse. The project seeks an opportunity to realise the invaluable services our floodplains provide. In this post, I'll share an overview of our work.

Our response to the Rock Review: one year on

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Tenanted sector
View of the estate with livestock grazing in background amid generally verdant scene.

Our response to the Rock Review set out our commitments in light of its recommendations. It is now one year since we published our response. And, of the 75 commitments, we have completed or are working on 64. In this post, we’ll summarise the progress we have made over the last year. We also shine a light on the role of the Farm Tenancy Forum and the collaborative approach of one farm in Oxfordshire. 

Apply now for a water screening study 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme
Waterbody fenced off under sunny skies

From today, small groups of farmers in England can apply for a Local Resource Option (LRO) screening study. An LRO is a water resources scheme that improves the resilience or supply of water in a local area. LRO screening studies are one way farmers and growers can better understand their options to improve the supply or resilience of water. In this post, I’ll share the background, explain how the studies work and include links to learn more and apply. 

Laying the hedgerow regulations

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme
Blackthorn hedgerow in the Spring Sunshine

We are pleased to tell you that legislation to protect hedgerows has today been laid in both Houses of Parliament. If approved by Parliament, the Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 will put baseline hedgerow management practices into law, providing a consistent approach across all people operating on agricultural land. 

Water Restoration Fund: grants now available

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme

Groups of farmers in England can now apply for a grant to improve freshwater habitats. Through the new Water Restoration Fund, local groups can apply for funding to bolster their capacity and capabilities for delivery of on-the-ground projects which improve the water environment. In this post, we'll explain how the fund works.

Storm Henk: grants available for affected farmers

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Flooding support

If you suffered damage to your land during Storm Henk that was uninsurable, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will contact you about financial support to help cover the costs of returning your land to the condition it was in before flooding occurred. In this post, we'll give an overview. Post updated 12 April.