Deadline looming for valuable water grant applications

Farmers in England have been urged not to miss out on valuable capital grants that help fund investments in water pollution control measures.

Land agent Strutt & Parker said the grants could save farmers money, but application packs must be requested before the May 31 deadline.

Strutt & Parker director Alistair Cochrane explained that funding was available through Water Capital Grants as part of a five-year Mid-Tier agreement under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme or as a standalone two-year option.

See also: Stewardship schemes could help bridge a subsidy funding gap

The amount of grant available is unlimited if water capital items are included as part of a wider five-year application, which includes other land management options, Mr Cochrane explained.

Under the standalone two-year scheme, grants of up to £10,000 are available.

“The grants provide financial support for works which will not only enhance water quality but will also improve fixed equipment on farms at a time when it may be hard to find the money to pay for improvements,” Mr Cochrane said.

The scheme was designed to improve water quality by reducing the amount of silt, nutrients and pollutants entering watercourses and aquifers, he added.

Grants can cover work including:

  • Concrete yard renewal
  • Installation of rainwater harvesting equipment
  • Alternative drinking sources for livestock away from watercourses and ponds
  • Lined bio-beds
  • Roofing for silage camps, collecting yards, muck heaps, slurry and silage stores

For example, concrete yard renewal helps the environment by improving yard drainage which reduces the amount of foul drainage run-off and the risk of water pollution.

“We already know that the government wants all slurry stores and muck heaps to be covered to reduce ammonia emissions as part of its Clean Air Strategy, so this is a good opportunity to get ahead,” Mr Cochrane said.

Rainwater capture

Funding can also be obtained for rainwater storage tanks, as a way of keeping clean and dirty water separate, allowing the free, clean water to be used for jobs around the farm instead of drinking-quality water supplies.

Farmers must be in a High Water Quality Priority Area to qualify for the two-year scheme and for certain options within the five-year scheme.

In these cases, proposals which do not have the support of the local Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) will be rejected.

“It is therefore important to contact the local CSFO before 31 May to discuss your proposals,” Mr Cochrane said.

Potential applicants must also have requested a Mid-Tier application pack from the Rural Payments Agency by 31 May, although they have until the end of July to submit the application itself.

Farmers will also need to have any relevant planning consents in place to support their application.