Welsh slurry storage improvement grant scheme to reopen

A £6m scheme offering Welsh farmers capital grants to help them improve their slurry storage and handling will reopen on 3 September.

The Welsh government has confirmed another round of the sustainable production grant (SPG), which will be aimed at addressing on-farm nutrient management to improve water, soil and air quality.

Slurry storage and management equipment will be included in the list of eligible items.

See also: Slurry storage to be hot topic at Royal Welsh

The minimum grant on offer will be £12,000 and the maximum £50,000, based on the grant being a 40% contribution to the total costs of the project.

However, the SPG will only provide support where the investment exceeds compliance with slurry storage regulations, achieving a minimum storage capacity of 160 days (190 days for pig and poultry), regardless of any existing on-farm storage.

‘Support farmers’

Welsh agriculture minister Lesley Griffiths said: “The impacts of on-farm pollution affecting water quality and wildlife have increased recently, often due to poor slurry storage and dirty-water handling facilities.

“Our next round of the SPG will focus on supporting farmers to deliver our objectives of enhanced nutrient management, safeguarding and improving water, soil and air quality by reducing pollution.

“The investment will support farmers to address these important issues and ensure current and future generations continue to benefit from our natural resources.”

The next round of the SPG is planned to open on 3 September and closes 26 October.

The scheme was last open for applications in 2016 when it was massively oversubscribed.

Environmental improvements in Northern Ireland

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is encouraging farmers to consider applying for the second tranche of the Wider Environmental Farming Scheme when it opens for applications on Monday (20 August).

UFU environment chairman, Wilbert Mayne, said the scheme was focused on addressing specific environmental needs and included options such as hedge planting, hedge laying and the fencing off of watercourses.