Window open for two Welsh farm grant schemes

Expressions of interest (EOI) windows have opened for two key grant schemes in Wales.

Both the Farm Business Grant Yard Coverings scheme and Glastir Small Grants Landscape and Pollinators are open from 18 May.

NFU Cymru highlighted the closing date for both, which is just six weeks away, on 25 June.

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Farm Business Grant Yard Coverings

This is the second EOI window for the scheme, which is designed to help farmers improve yard coverings for livestock, silage, manure and slurry.

Farmers can submit EOIs for grants of £3,000-£12,000 to cover items such as roofing and some supporting structures.

NFU Cymru highlighted several revisions to the application rules in this second round, including revised item descriptions to give clarity on eligibility.

The Welsh government has set out detailed descriptions of the construction and the extent of the roof, flooring below, rainwater run-off and proximity to other buildings.

Photographs

A minimum requirement has been introduced for four geotagged photographs to demonstrate the need for primary items. 

Additional photographs, outside the tolerated distances, can also be submitted to provide further evidence of the item’s location and necessity.

Scoring system

Applications will be subjected to scrutiny for eligibility against a scoring system. This has been updated with additional scoring layers added to provide the Welsh government with a wider range of tallies to assist with selection.

Once selected, farmers will have 21 days to accept the offer.

The Welsh government also pointed out that farmers who had successfully claimed support in the previous round could apply again if the total of both their claims did not exceed the £12,000 maximum.

Full guidance is available in PDF format on the Welsh government website.

Glastir Small Grants – Landscape and Pollinators 

The Glastir-supported scheme is also opening on 18 May, and closes on 25 June. 

The scheme provides capital grants to carry out projects that improve or maintain the traditional landscape and links habitats for pollinators.

Contracts will be offered to the highest ranking EOIs when measured against an eligibility scoring system.

Among elements that could qualify, the Welsh government lists main capital works on:

• Pond restoration
• Coppicing
• Hedge laying
• Earth and stone bank restoration
• Tree and shrub planting.

Full guidance on the scheme is available on the Welsh government website in PDF format.