Slurry cover grant – one week to deadline
© Tim Scrivener Natural England has confirmed that it has received 253 applications so far under the Farming Ammonia Reduction Grant scheme, with just a week left to go until the deadline (31 January).
The figures suggest that livestock producers who have already applied to install a slurry store cover under the scheme stand a good chance of having their application approved.
The total pot of money on offer is £15.9m and applications will be assessed on a first-come-first-served basis.
See also: Defra to spend £16m on slurry cover scheme
The scheme offers payments of £61.00/sq m for self-supporting covers and £11.20/ sq m for floating covers for slurry stores and lagoons.
The aim is to reduce ammonia from agriculture, which is a contributor to air pollution.
Applicants will be visited by an adviser who will assess each application on a case-by-case basis before approving any works.
The adviser will also provide advice on reducing ammonia emissions and other diffuse pollution on the farm.
Farmers will be required to pay for any approved work in full and then claim back the grant money. The claim deadline is 31 July 2017.