Almost three-quarters of land in England is now in drought after experiencing record-low rainfall and unusually high temperatures. As the dry weather looks set to persist, we've gathered information and resources to help farmers and growers.
From today, 2 new grants are available to farmers and land managers on lowland peat soils. One provides funding for water management infrastructure, while the other supports research into viable markets for paludiculture and traditional crops grown at higher water tables.
Farmers in England can apply for a Local Resource Option (LRO) screening study. These studies help groups of farmers explore practical ways to secure reliable water supplies and improve long-term resilience. In this post, we explain how the studies work, what they can help farmers achieve, and how to apply.
In this episode, a Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser speaks to two arable farmers. One farms in Norfolk and the other in Cambridgeshire. They discuss how natural processes, like soil and water management, can help farms reduce costs.
You can now apply for a Lowland Peat Water Discovery Grant. Up to £4.5 million is available to help farmers and local partners explore more sustainable ways of managing water in lowland peat areas.
Next week, we will host two webinars to introduce the new lowland peat grant schemes for farmers. We will explain how we are developing the schemes and give you the chance to ask questions.
Through the Farmer Collaboration Fund, government will help farmers and land managers share knowledge more easily, so best practice becomes common practice. We’re inviting people to hear our latest plans and share their views at a series of in-person workshops.
There’s still time for you to apply for a Water Management grant before the window closes on 12 July. The grant is available to horticultural and arable businesses growing, or intending to grow, irrigated food crops, ornamentals, or forestry nurseries. The maximum grant available is £500,000 per applicant per funding round. The minimum grant you can apply for is £35,000.
In a few weeks' time, you will be able to apply for a Water Management grant. To help you prepare, we’ve published guidance for the grant on GOV.UK. In this post, I’ll give an overview of the grant and details of a webinar for you to find out more.