BPS & Grants

The land management professionals at Roger Parry & Partners have a detailed working knowledge of available grants and subsidies and the regulatory framework that applies to rural businesses. We are able to provide practical pro-active advice on how these affect a client’s business.

There are a variety of schemes that require expertise and advice, to receive the payments that you are entitled to and ensure that these are correct. The paperwork that is now required for schemes can be complex and time-consuming and the aim of our land experts is to remove the burden of complicated legislation and regulation by offering practical compliance advice. We aim to alert clients to opportunities and also advise clients to achieve a maximum return for their business, taking into consideration their objectives and farming business operations.

We pride ourselves at being at the cutting edge of legal developments and government policy to ensure that our advice will always keep clients well informed. We are expert in the operation and application of the Basic Payment Scheme and how the specifics of legislation affect businesses day-to-day. Our experienced entitlement trading team are able to secure clients the best possible deal.

The Single Payment Scheme came to an end in 2014 and its replacement, the Basic Payment Scheme, was new for 2015 and introduced more complicated rules, such as Greening guidelines. We can help you to ensure your business is meeting all the requirements and maximising your money or if you’re new to the scheme we can help set you up. Contact us if you require assistance with registration, online access or completion of your claim.

Grants

Clients will be advised on entering into these schemes that are complicated and that often have pitfalls. We can advise in a way that takes the client’s objectives into consideration and ensure that a significant benefit is gained from them. We can complete applications forms, review payments, submit claims, liaise with funding bodies, provide advice when looking at funding, monitoring claims, maximising returns and identifying projects.

Below is a list of the rural grants currently available (updated February 2023)

We can also help with:

• Organic Grant Schemes
• Rural Enterprise Grants
• Environmental Grants
• Local Government Grants
• Business Rates Relief Grants

England  
Basic Payment SchemePayments based on hectares of farmed land. Young Farmer top-up also available. Last year of applications. Delinked payments will replace BPS from 2024 which will be based on an average of payments between 2020 and 2022. Must claim BPS in 2023 to be eligible. Open Spring 2023. Deadline 15th May each year
Countryside Stewardship Mid TierLast year to apply for CS Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers
5 year scheme with annual revenue payments. Range of options for grassland, arable and historic/archaeological features. Range of capital items     including fencing, hedge laying,  roofing and livestock tracks. CSF approval is required for some items in high and medium priority water quality areas. Capital items must be complete within the first 3 years of the agreement.
If successful, your agreement will begin on 1st January 2024.
 		Open spring 2023
Closes August 2023
Last date to request applications and CSFO approval 31st May 2023
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier A more detailed version of Mid Tier. Open now for applications
Countryside Stewardship Capital Grant 3 year scheme. 4 funding elements to improve biodiversity, water quality, air quality and natural flood management e.g. Slurry scrapers, concrete yard renewal, roofing, rainwater goods and fencing. Each item has a standard cost £ per m or per ha. Limit of £20,000 for each  element of funding.
 		Open all year round
England Woodland Creation OfferFunds the creation of new woodland from the area of 1 hectare. Costs of planting woodland. Support for capital items. 10 years of annual maintenance payments. Contribution towards the cost of installing infrastructure. Up to £10,000 per hectare

Capital payment for trees at £1.60 per tree plus supporting works e.g. fencing at £5.00/m
Maintenance Payments of £300 per ha per year for 10 years 
Sustainable Farming Incentive Area based funding through three different standards; arable and horticultural soils, improved grassland soils and, moorland and rough grazing. 3 year scheme. Amendments can be made yearly. Open to Landowners and Tenants. Whole or part farm scheme. No min or max amount of land.      Common land eligible through group agreements.

All standards require testing of soil organic matter, a soil assessment and a management plan.
Standards comprise of:
· Arable & Horticultural Soils: £22-£40/ha
· Improved Grassland Soils:  £28-£58/ha
· Moorland and Rough Grazing: £148/ agreement plus £6.45/ha Intro. 
· Hedgerows: £3-10/m
· Integrated pest management: Plan £989/year plus £45-£673/ha
· Nutrient management: Report £589/year plus £102-£593/ha
· Arable and horticultural land: £451-£614/ha
· Improved grassland: £235-£474/ha
· Low input grassland: £98-£151/ha  
 
Payments are made quarterly.
Further standards and ambition levels available in future years
An additional management payment of £20/ha for up to 50ha of land entered into the scheme is available for Farmers to   receive up to £1,000 per year in addition to their agreement to cover the administrative costs of participation.
 		Open for applications
Local Nature RecoveryPay for actions that support local nature recovery and meet local environmental priorities. Encourage collaboration between farmers, helping them work together to improve their local environment. Launch in 2024
Landscape RecoverySupport landscape and ecosystem recovery through long term projects e.g. restoring wilder landscapes, large-scale tree planting and peatland and saltmarsh restoration. Launch in 2024
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund£1,000 to £25,000 grant funding on a list of eligible items. Available to farmers, contractors and foresters with an SBI.

Two separate applications:
Productivity and Slurry: Funding towards capital items to improve agricultural sustainability and horticultural and forestry productivity, helping farmers use less inputs, reduce emissions and cut waste. E.g. Dribble bar, trailing slurry show, cameras for monitoring farm yard, forestry equipment.

Animal Health and Welfare: Funding towards  capital items to offer improvements in health and welfare of livestock, improving biosecurity and decrease environmental stress. E.g. Mobile handling system, cattle crush, weighing system, livestock cameras etc.

Open February 2023



Open March 2023
Farming Transformation fund – Water Management GrantCapital items to improve farm productivity through more efficient use of water for irrigation, and to secure water supplies for crop irrigation by the construction of on-farm reservoirs and the adoption of best practice irrigation application equipment. £35,000 to £500,000 grants funding (40% of the cost). Closed
Farming Innovation Programme3 Funds available:
– The Industry-led Research and Development Partnerships Fund 
– The Farming Futures Research and Development Fund (competitions open early 2022) 
– The Projects to Accelerate Adoption Fund (competitions open later in 2022) 		Industry-led Research and Development Partnerships Fund open now for applications
Animal Health and Welfare reviewCommercial livestock keepers – 50 pigs, 20 sheep or 10 cattle. Lump sum payment to cover vet costs. Vet to provide advice on recommendations and actions that improve animal health and welfare.Closed
STEPS – Species Rich HedgerowsArea based funding for priority catchment areas for protecting river health and drinking water quality. Severn Trent has pledged to fund reinstating and filling in any gaps  in hedgerow over your land to  increase the ecological corridors across the landscape. For fields used for grazing stock fencing in areas planted can be included to keep the animals from destroying the saplings. 100% funding for all  materials including the locally sourced tree plants. All labour costs will also be covered if desired. Open
STEPS – Capital SchemeThe scheme offers farmers and land managers, both owners and tenants, financial and technical support, to invest in solutions to help tackle diffuse water   pollution and to protect and maintain biodiversity and the natural environment in priority catchments. Apply for up to £30,000 of funding
Match funded.		Closed
Wales
Basic Payment SchemePayments based on hectares of farmed land. Young Farmer top-up also available.Open spring
Deadline 15th May each year
Small Grants – EnvironmentCapital funding to do works such as hedge planting, hedge laying, hedge coppicing, stoning gateways, guttering and downpipes etc.Closes 3rd March
Small Grants – Woodland creationCapital funding for planting up to 2 ha of woodland in minimum 0.1ha blocks. Capital funding for supportive works such as fencing. Example: Native Biodiversity    woodland 1600 – £3,000/ha,          Shelterwood – £3,600/£4,500/ha, fencing – £5.56/m. 12 Year annual payments per ha – £350 and £60Closes 24th March
Small Grant – Yard Coverings£3,000 to £12,000 grant funding (40% funding based on standard cost). Roofing of livestock feeding/handling areas, manure stores and silage stores. Planning consent and SAB (drainage) approval required to claim. Opens 26th June
Closes 4th August
Small Grants – EfficiencyGrants of between £1,000 and £12,000 towards farm equipment. 40% funding. List of eligible items to choose from with a standard cost. Items include livestock handling systems, solar powered fence energisers, weighing systems, EID equipment and arable/grassland equipment. Opens 16th January
Closes 24th February
Small Grants – Horticulture Start upFunding to encourage and support new commercial horticultural enterprises in Wales. Eligible costs include specific equipment and  technology for horticulture, seed/plants, harvesting and storage systems, marketing/advertising costs and branding/website costs. Second hand equipment is   eligible. Maximum of £3,000 available to each applicant
Nutrient Management Investment SchemeGrants of £12,000 to £50,000 for items to enhance farm nutrient management and water efficiency, such as covered slurry stores, vacuum tanks, manure stores, GPS systems, manure spreaders, slurry store covers and yard roofing.Closed
Growing for the EnvironmentFunding to establish an unsprayed crop following autumn harvesting of cereals or maize. Minimum area of 1ha of crop established across holding. Soil Test must be undertaken. Maximum grant of £5,000. Autumn or Spring sown crops.Closed
Horticulture Development SchemeAvailable to existing horticultural producers with the aim to develop their business through investment in new equipment, improve efficiency and allow them to enter new markets. The maximum grant awarded is £50,000 and the minimum is £3,000 which provides a 40% contribution towards the investment. Eligible costs include: cultivation equipment, precision seed drills, precision nutrient application equipment, harvesters, storage and transport systems, GPS equipment and polytunnels/glasshouses. Opens 4th April
Closes 27th May
Organic ConversionThe scheme is an area based support scheme available to existing agricultural producers across Wales who wish to convert from conventional to organic production. Differing payment rates depending on land cover classification.  Between £12.60/ha to £345/haClosed
Woodland Creation Planning SchemeCapital funding offered for development plans of creation of new woodland. Between £1,000-£5,000 available to provide plan Open
Woodland Creation Grant (Planting) Funding to support commitments of woodland expansion set out in net zero Wales and the Programme for Government commitments to create an National Forest for Wales. From £3,000/hectare for planting, maintenance payments of £60/hectare for 12 years and premium payments of £350/ha for 12 yearsOpen 13th February
Closes 24th March
Woodland RestorationCapital works for restocking, fencing and associated operations on sites where there is larch and up to 50% non-larch species Management Plan – Up to £1,500 towards plan. Restocking Grant – £1,900 to £2,770Open 16th December
Closes