New £80m Funding Package Allocated to Welsh Farmers

Tue 11 December 2018

Rural Affairs Secretary, Lesley Griffiths, has announced today an £80million lifeline is being offered to Welsh farmers. The funding will enable the extension of Glastir agreements, the continuation of the Farm Business Grant, a further round of the Glastir Small Grants and an additional £16million for the Sustainable Production Grant.

The funding aims to support farmers facing the considerable challenges of Brexit. The funding will include grants for tackling on-farm pollution and part payments for equipment and machinery that increase a farm’s profitability.

Welsh farmers with environmental land management contracts will benefit as Glastir Advanced, Commons and Organic agreements will be extended until 2021. This will help provide certainty for land managers and ensure the ongoing delivery of important environmental outcomes.

Farmers can also expect a further round of Glastir small grants which provides grants of up to £7,500 for capital works that reduce carbon emissions, improve water quality, reduce flood risks and boost biodiversity. Items can include hedge planting, hedge laying, fencing, water troughs and water piping to name a few.

The Rural Affairs Secretary has confirmed the popular Farm Business Grant will also continue, providing 40% payments towards equipment and machinery. Eligible items to date have included livestock handling equipment, cattle crushes, weigh scales, calving detectors, cattle and sheep hurdles, EID readers, calf milk feeder, 10t feed bins, feed barriers, GPS, yield mapping equipment, subsoilers, aerators, min till machinery, seed drills, pasture plate meters, electric fence energizers, fuel tanks, boreholes, computer software etc.

Finally, an additional £16m has also been approved for the Sustainable Production Grant helping farmers protect water quality from pollution and improve nutrient management. Eligible items can include chemical stores, fuel tanks and bunds, soil testing kits, concrete yard renewal and underground drainage, rainwater goods etc.

The next application dates are yet to be announced. Keep an eye on our website for regular updates, or speak to your local McCartneys agent to register your interest today to ensure you don’t miss out on available grant funding.

Beth Hanson, Kington Office - (01544) 230316