Readers of this blog will be familiar with the Basic Payment Scheme and with the Rural Payments system.
Alongside that there's funding available through a variety of schemes under the Rural Development Programme for England:
- The first phase of the Countryside Productivity scheme - launched on 9 March 2015 - will provide a total of £5 million to help farmers access the best new technology – from new and more efficient lighting, through to crop robotics. Grants cover up to 40% of eligible costs. Small grants provide between £2,500 and £35,000. For large grants, funding of between £35,000 and £1,000,000 is available.
- Farmers and researchers are also being encouraged to notify their ideas for a separate set of Countryside Productivity grants which will be made available later this year under the European Innovation Partnership.
- Under the Countryside Stewardship scheme, the water capital grants and woodland capital grants schemes are now open. Further parts of the scheme will be launched in the coming weeks and months
- As the Rural Development Programme schemes are launched, you will be able to find the guidance and application forms through rural grants and payments on GOV.UK and also through our collection of CAP Reform information.