Water company opens latest round of grants for farmers
© Adobe Stock Severn Trent Water has opened the latest round of its environmental protection scheme (Steps) funding, with grants open to farmers in eligible catchments.
Funding options available include precision technology, cover crops, watercourse infrastructure, low drift nozzles, changes to tillage practice, and integrating livestock into the rotation.
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A wide range of options are available to apply for which fall under the following categories:
- Improving soil health
- Improving soil structure
- Protecting watercourses
- Applying in the right place, at the right time
- Working in harmony with livestock
- Keeping soil and nutrients in the field
Open to more holdings
Dr Jodie Rettino, Severn Trent catchment and biodiversity lead, explains this new round of funding is open to more holdings than ever.
“We aim to build on the remarkable progress achieved with farmers, elevate our efforts with refreshed options, and uncover new, innovative opportunities to collaborate with the farming community,” she says.
Jodie recommends speaking to your agricultural adviser to check you are in a priority catchment, and to ensure application aligns with the water quality priorities of the area.
“Within each of the areas there will also be the opportunity to apply for an innovation option.
“These options require farmers to consult with their local agricultural adviser as part of a competitive application process where they can pitch alternative ideas to protect and improve water quality.”
“In the past, we’ve seen successful applications for items such as high-precision application equipment, low ground pressure tyres and non-chemical weeding machinery.
“By allowing farmers to make suggestions to us, we believe we can get the best improvements to water quality because farmers know their land better than anyone else,” says Jodie.
Continuation payments
In addition to the 2025 options, there will also be continuation payments for eligible Steps grant recipients from the past five years.
Over the past 10 years, the waterboard has funded over £10m worth of farm improvements to help reduce losses of pesticides, nitrate and cryptosporidium.
“Continuation payments for our eligible infield options will ensure as many of our previous Steps-funded items as possible are continued beyond their existing agreements.”
Find more information and fill out your application online at steps.flexigrant.com.