Livestock innovation grants available until 7 February

Beef and sheep farmers wanting to test a new approach to the management of their stock and business are being urged to apply for up to £5,000 under the Farm Innovation Grant (FIG) scheme.

The competitive grant scheme, run by AHDB Beef and Lamb, offers funding to groups of at least three English beef and sheep farmers who are interested in testing or assessing an element of best practice on-farm, or implementing a piece of new technology which will help improve returns for their livestock enterprise. 

The funding allows the group to get technical help to set up their project and cover some of the costs associated, for example data collection and analysis.

See also: Example of FIG scheme research: Farm’s farrowing tent brings welfare benefits to pigs

Alternatively, they can pay for advice on the best approach to address an issue on their range of farm circumstances.

Funding for novel equipment is limited to £1,000/project.

Farmers will also be expected to contribute some of their own money and time to the project which should be shown in the proposal as a farmer contribution.

The aim of the scheme is to facilitate projects that will result in valuable learnings, which AHDB can then share with the wider beef and sheep industry.

One of the conditions of the funding is that a report will be provided to AHDB to allow the lessons learned to be communicated to other levy payers.

A farm walk or event may also be requested to demonstrate the outcomes to other farmers.

For more details see the FIG application form (PDF) which must be emailed to ku.gro.bdha@prb by 7 February 2016. Alternatively, call 024 7647 8834 with any questions.