Pig farmers will be able to claim grants of up to £25,000 to increase slurry storage, under the next round of the £150 million Capital Grants scheme.
The fund aims to support sustainable food production and environmental improvement, helping farmers boost profitability and farmers and land managers are now able to apply for a total of 78 items, ranging from supporting natural flood management projects to improving water quality on farms under this new round of the Capital Grants offer.
The grants cover a wide range of on-farm projects – from tree planting and flood prevention to improved slurry storage and water filtration. Four new items have been added including assessing woodland condition, creating wildfire management plans, repairing drystone walls and hosting educational visits.
Changes are also being introduced to ensure that more farm businesses can access these grants, including setting funding limits that maximise the number of farms benefiting, which Defra said was fairer for farmers, while also enabling it to manage budgets more effectively. There be will funding limits to four of the six groups of capital items in this Capital Grants offer.
An application can include items from each of the six groups. The funding limit for four of the groups is:
- £25,000 maximum for each of the following three groups: water quality, air quality, and natural flood management.
- £35,000 maximum for the group covering boundaries, trees, and orchards.
Defra secretary Steve Reed said: “British farmers work tirelessly to feed the nation and look after our countryside. This major investment will give them the tools to cut pollution, restore nature, and grow their businesses.
“It forms part of the record £11.8 billion we’ve committed to sustainable farming during this parliament – boosting food security, supporting rural growth, and protecting the environment.”
Defra said it will listen to feedback from farmers and use it to improve the offer ahead of the next round of the scheme, which it plans to open in 2026.
Country Land and Business Association president Victoria Vyvyan said: “The launch of a new round of capital grants is welcome news for farmers at a time when there are few schemes open for which they can apply, especially in the wake of the Sustainable Farming Incentive abruptly closing.
“The capital grants scheme was unexpectedly paused in the autumn and farmers need confidence that this round will run smoothly.”
More information
- The latest guidance will appear here at 12:30pm on Thursday, July 3: Capital items: guidance for applicants and agreement holders – GOV.UK
- More information on these new items will be available later this summer on the Grant Finder tool. As new items will be available later this year, Defra encourages farmers to plan ahead and consider all potential applications before applying.
- Capital grants can be used as standalone agreements or to support the delivery of an existing Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship (CS), or Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement.
- Those who previously submitted an application will have it processed and be offered an agreement if eligible. Anyone who started but didn’t complete an application will need to reapply.
- This round will close to applications when the available funding is committed. Defra will aim to give reasonable notice of scheme closure, but admitted this may not be possible.
- Later this year, Defra plans to add four more items to the Capital Grants offer: accreditation for educational access visits, installing and maintaining signage, using tree surgery to hinge a tree into a watercourse, and creating or restoring ponds.