Farming Talk: Finding a route through the funding maze
One question I am frequently asked by farmers looking to develop their business, is whether there is any funding available to help.
Now details of the Rural Development Programme for England have been announced, it seems a good time to attempt to simplify what is probably the largest source of funding available to Shropshire farmers, with some certainty at least in the medium term.
Over the next five years, there will be four main strands of funding available, which are Countryside Stewardship, Growth Programme, Countryside Productivity and Leader. Let's look at these in turn.
Firstly, Countryside Stewardship contains three elements: Mid-tier is for environmental improvements in the wider countryside, similar in many ways to the old Entry Level Scheme; Higher-tier agreements succeed Higher Level Stewardship, and are multi-year schemes for environmentally significant sites; and the one to two-year capital grants are for specific projects including hedgerow and boundaries, water quality, developing plans, woodland creation and tree health.
Secondly, the Growth Programme, with a minimum grant of £35,000 is aimed at creating growth and jobs. Its five key priorities are building knowledge and skills, developing micro, small and medium sized businesses, small scale renewable investment, superfast broadband and tourism. In Shropshire, the good news is that £500,000 is available under the Growth Programme in the Marches LEP area including Telford & Wrekin.
Thirdly, Countryside Productivity offers capital grants ranging from £2,500 to £1,000,000 to assist farmers and foresters to start-up a business, improve skills and training, innovate and utilise new technology and research.
Finally Leader, which is available in parts of Shropshire, has a minimum grant of £2,500 and is targeted at the creation of growth and jobs. Its priorities are increased farm and forestry productivity; micro and small businesses and farm diversification; rural tourism; rural services and cultural and heritage activity.
As well as organisations like the CLA, the first port of call should be the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, who are charged with delivering much of this funding and can be found at Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, on (01743) 462026 or online at www.marcheslep.org.uk
Caroline Bedell is Midlands Director of the CLA
