02 Apr 2024
Rural grants 2024
Below is a list of Government grants for the rural sector, to look out for in 2024.
Rural grants that are open now
| Scheme | Grants for/ to | Grant size | Open |
| SFI annual health and welfare review. For farmers who keep cattle, sheep and pigs | A vet to visit and carry out a health and welfare review of livestock | Depends on animal e.g. £684 for a pig review | Now |
| Grant to improve productivity | Prescribed list of items (see note two below) | £1,000 to £50,000 | You can apply now. The deadline is 17 April (see note one) |
| Grant to improve slurry management. For farmers with slurry | Prescribed list of items (see note two below) | £1,000 to £50,000 | You can apply now. The deadline to apply is 17 April (see note one) |
| Farming innovation programme – Farming futures R&D – nutrient management | Businesses and researchers to work on longer-term innovation. Focus on nutrient management | A share of up to £25 million will be delivered across two competition rounds | Spring 2024 and autumn 2024 |
Rural grants coming soon
| Scheme | Grants for/ to | Grant size | Open |
| Laying hen housing for health and welfare. For laying hen and pullet farmers |
|
TBC | The online checker will open in spring-summer 2024 |
| Cattle housing for health and welfare
|
|
TBC | The online checker will open in autumn 2024 |
| Grant to improve animal health and welfare. For livestock farmers | £1,000 to £25,000 | Defra will blog when it is time to apply (see note one) | |
| Slurry infrastructure grant | Help you improve or expand your slurry storage capacity | £25,000 to £250,000 | There will be another opportunity to apply later this year |
| Water management grant |
|
£35,000 to £500,000 | Round three is expected later this year |
| Farming innovation programme – Farming futures R&D – nutrient management | Businesses and researchers to work on longer-term innovation. Focus on nutrient management | A share of up to £25 million will be delivered across two competition rounds | Spring 2024 and autumn 2024 |
| Farming innovation programme fund: Accelerating development of practices and technologies (ADOPT). For farmers, growers and foresters |
|
There will be a total of £45 million grant funding available up until 2028/29 | Coming in summer 2024 |
| Farming innovation programme – Small R&D Partnerships (round four) | Develop a new farming product or service and take it towards commercialisation. This can be used to develop a solution once it works in practice | A share of £7.8 million | Coming in autumn 2024 |
| Farming innovation programme – feasibility studies (round four) |
|
A share of up to £4.8 million | Coming in autumn 2024 |
| Farming innovation programme – farming futures R&D – net zero farming | Businesses and researchers to work on longer-term innovation. This particular competition will focus on net zero farming | A share of up to £12.5 million | Coming in autumn 2024 |
Notes:
1. There are multiple application windows
2. See also Brian’s blog on applying to the farming equipment and technology fund.
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