The team at West Country Rural Ltd have broad experience with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) schemes. The current offer is in a state of flux with the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Scheme 2023 now closed to new applicants and the SFI 2024 now only open by invitation. The Countryside Stewardship Scheme was scheduled to make one last appearance this year, but it seems that the current political terrain has led to decision paralysis at the RPA.
The most recent round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grant scheme saw great success for those we applied for. The next round will come out ‘soon’, but we have no details at present.
We have also had success with the Slurry Infrastructure Grant (SIG) scheme, although the timescales mean that the scheme may be of limited use – if you need more storage and you need it in under 48 months then this scheme is not for you!
It is currently possible to apply for the Capital Grant Scheme (CGS) which covers items such as fencing, water troughs, stoning out gateways, laying hedges, limbing trees, repairing stone faced banks, installing new wooden gates etc. with relative ease. Higher value items such as concrete renewal and roofing are still able to be applied for, but the threshold for gaining support from one of our local Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers is set incredibly high. There is also a waiting time of unknown length due to staff shortages at Natural England. Therefore, whilst the farming press continue to shout the virtues and ease of the scheme for roofing silage clamps and concreteing yard aprons, in the south west these items are currently unicorns. We will update this page as we receive new information!
If you would like assistance with preparing an application, submitting a claim once you have your agreement in place or just to review your options then please contact the office.
