£20 Million for Farming and Forestry Businesses - how to access new national grant scheme in the North West

This new scheme under the Rural Development Programme for England aims to help farmers, foresters and horticultural businesses in England to increase profits and reduce their impact on the environment.

The £20 million fund to help businesses become more efficient at using resources was launched today by Agriculture Minister Jim Paice. The scheme aims to help businesses to become more profitable, whilst reducing the impact of farming on the environment.

Funds will be allocated between now and December 2013. Grants will cover a maximum of half of the total cost of projects in uplands areas and at most 40% of the total cost of projects in non uplands areas.

Under the Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme, all farmers, foresters, contractors and horticulturalists in England are invited to apply for grants of between £2,500 and £25,000. Applicants will be assessed on their ability to meet one or more of six objectives

Agriculture Minister, Jim Paice said: “Growing our economy goes hand-in-hand with protecting and improving our environment. We want rural businesses to thrive and this new fund will help farmers, foresters and horticulturists to boost their profits and use greener and more efficient ways of working.”

Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme (FFIS) in the North West

- Access to remain through subsidised plans -

In the North West the FFIS replaces the performance grants that were previously available. Access to the FFIS grant support for farmers in the North West (Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire) will be through the current RDPE North West Livestock Programme’s subsidised technical plans to help applicants meet the requirements for a successful application. (See the Support and Grants section of this website or use the numbers below) 

To sign up for the North West Livestock Programme technical plans, please contact the following:

 • SAC on 0845 6040535 for Animal Health & Welfare planning, and

 • Promar on 01270 616 800 for Nutrient management planning and Resource Efficiency auditing of energy, water etc.

Further guidance and who to contact about grant applications

The Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme will fund projects that:

• save energy and reduce carbon emissions;
• reduce dependence on artificial fertilizers through better use of manures;
• improve soil quality;
• improve animal health and welfare;
• save and recycle water; and
• promote woodland management by processing timber more efficiently.

A handbook (see link below) has been designed to help applicants get the most from FFIS. It gives examples of eligible grant items for nutrient management, resource efficiency and animal health and welfare for beef, sheep, dairy pig and poultry farms. The accompanying leaflet highlights the key points of the scheme.

1. Read the Farm and forestry improvement scheme applicant handbook – round one

2. For more information download the  Farm and Forestry Improvement Scheme leaflet 

The 1st round of the scheme is open from 16 November 2011 until 17 January 2012.

Download the application form from the Defra website >> 

For a step-by-step guide of what to do with your application form, declaration form and supporting documents, visit the grants page of this website >>      

RDPE Delivery Team NW, DEFRA, c/o Environment Agency, Ghyll Mount, Gillan Way, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 9BP

Telephone Number: 01768 215805