Farmers face grant delays as advice service hits capacity

Farmers may struggle to access Defra’s £225m Capital Grants scheme after key advisers warned they are already unable to take on new requests as part of the new guidance announced.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) confirmed last week that the scheme will reopen in July, offering funding for a wide range of environmental improvements.

However, land agents say the advisory system underpinning applications is already under pressure, with Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) advisers in some regions indicating they cannot currently process new advice requests.

See also: Farmers told prepare now for next £225m Capital Grants scheme

Defra said CSF advice has been in “exceptionally high demand” as farmers prepare for the 2026 scheme, with a high number of support visits already completed over the past seven months.

Application barrier

CSF advice is an essential gateway for 24 grant items, especially those linked to water or air quality, or flood-risk issues linked to farming.

These include:

• RP15: Concrete Yard Renewal
• RP28: Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores, silage stores)
• RP29: Self-supporting covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores.

Without this approval, farmers cannot submit applications for these items during what is expected to be a highly competitive funding window.

Tom Cooper, director at Cooper Rural, based in Yorkshire, covers several catchment areas in the North of England. He said the situation raises concerns about a lack of preparation within Defra and the scheme’s readiness.

“With the RPA only announcing the new round on 19 March, it’s concerning that within two working days CSF advisers are saying they can’t take on new requests,” he said.

“The guidance is very clear, if a CSF adviser does not approve your proposals for these items, the RPA will reject your application.”

Mr Cooper says he is dealing with several clients who in particular are interested in applying for RP15: Concrete Yard Renewal, but he fears they will be left disappointed “unless Defra gets its act together”.

Defra said where CSF teams have reached capacity, they are prioritising existing requests and will begin taking on new ones later this year.

It added that farmers can still apply for a wide range of Capital Grant items that do not require CSF support – and can attend free CSF events in the meantime.

Core scheme

The Capital Grants scheme forms a central part of England’s post-Brexit farm support framework, sitting alongside schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Funding in 2026 has been increased to £225m, up from £150m last year, but demand is expected to exceed the available budget once again. In 2025, the scheme closed within weeks of opening after funds were fully allocated.

Hugh Townsend, director of Devon-based Townsend Chartered Surveyors, said: “It’s very difficult to rely on these grants, with the uncertainty over whether Defra might close them, change the terms, or whether the money will run out. It’s a big change; that continuity and reliability is gone.

“My advice to farm businesses is to go after these grants – if you get them, great. If not, move on and explore other options. Certainly, I think every farm should be looking at capital markets and BNG to see whether they suit them.”

Defra response

In a statement, Defra said: “We are backing farmers to build a more productive, profitable and resilient sector with a record £11.8bn allocated for sustainable farming and food production this Parliament, alongside funding for innovation, equipment, and infrastructure.

“More than half of farmers are already in our farming schemes, helping them strengthen their businesses while protecting the natural assets farming depends on.

“Advisers have been working with farmers across the country to provide advice in readiness for the launch of the 2026 Capital Grant offer.”