Deadline looms for productivity small grants scheme
© Tim Scrivener Applicants to the Countryside Productivity Small Grants (CPSG) scheme have just days to supply information on new kit ahead of a key deadline.
The scheme provides grants for farmers in England of up to £12,000 to fund 40% of certain new equipment costs.
The deadline on 18 January is for the 3,800 applicants already accepted on the scheme to confirm items they wish to buy are available from their chosen suppliers.
See also: Tips on how to fill the BPS cash gap on your farm
The NFU highlighted the fast-approaching deadline and set out the two steps needed to progress claims.
First, the availability of the items farmers have chosen should be confirmed with the supplier, an NFU spokesperson said.
Then, once that has been completed, applicants should accept the Grant Funding Agreement.
This acceptance must be lodged via the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) acceptance portal.
The RPA will then confirm the steps have been completed and the claim is progressing via email.
With this phase completed, the next key deadline is midnight on 31 May, by which time farms must buy and install the equipment and submit claims for funding.
This deadline originally fell in March but the government granted a two-month extension after farmers reported difficulties in securing deliveries of purchased equipment due to coronavirus disruptions.
More information and contacts
- CPSG Acceptance Portal
- Email: CPSGEnquiries@rpa.gov.uk
- Phone RPA on 03000 200 301