The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that it will be opening a new round of farming grants, through The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, as part of the Farming Investment Fund.
The grant is available for farmers, including poultry, foresters, growers and contractors to these sectors for specific items designed to increase productivity, boost environmental sustainability and improve animal health and welfare.
All applicants, including both layer hen and broiler farmers can apply for a grant between £1,000 and £25,000, with the money going towards the costs of specific items from the prescribed list.
Defra said “The first group eligible to apply will be commercial livestock farmers who keep cattle, pigs, sheep, meat chickens, or laying hens.”
What is in the fund?
The fund has been split into two themes, Productivity and Slurry, which opens late in February and, Animal Health and Welfare, which is available in March.
In the Productivity and Slurry category, the grant for livestock is mostly limited to cow equipment.
However, within the Animal Health and Welfare category, poultry farmers can apply for the grant to aid the cost of a number of things, some of which are supposed to enhance biosecurity. These include monitoring systems, feed equipment, poultry perches and 3D camera systems.
Items that this grant can be used for have been identified to help with agricultural productivity, contribute to improved animal welfare, encourage more sustainable pesticide and fertiliser usage, improve air and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce unsustainable use of abstracted water and encourage sustainable management of woodlands.
Applying for a grant
In a press release, Defra has said that “In the first round, those who applied for a grant received approximately 44% of the total cost. The fund proved very popular, and the first round was significantly oversubscribed. We encourage anyone who was unsuccessful in the first round to apply again.”
How does this help poultry farmers?
Enhancing access to equipment designed to streamline processes on farms is an important part of supporting bird owners.
With the costs poultry farmers are continually incurring, due to the cost of living, inflation and the reduced access to insurance, monetary support is essential to keeping the poultry industry alive.
How does Livetec support poultry farmers?
Poultry farmers are in need of support more now than ever before, especially as the threat of disease continues.
Knowing the importance of biosecurity, Livetec have a range of evidence-based biosecurity plans and services tailored to the individual needs for poultry farmers.
Contact us today to get started on providing superior protection for your farm business.
