The RDPE Countryside Productivity Scheme provides funding for projects in England which improve productivity in the farming and forestry sectors and help create jobs and growth in the rural economy. The scheme is administered by the RPA.
We have recently had success assisting some of our clients to apply for grant funding and our understanding is that the take up in applying for the available grants to date have been fairly low, suggesting that there is still a significant amount of funding available.
The funding is available for projects which ‘improve productivity in the farming and forestry sectors and help create jobs and growth in the rural economy’.
Funding is available for projects that:
1. Improve forestry productivity. Deadline for applications is 3 April 2018. Grant funding can help pay for:
- Increasing economic return through more efficient felling and extraction processes
- Adding value to felled timber by primary processing
2. Improve farm productivity. Deadline for applications is 3 December 2018. Grant funding can help to pay for:
- The use of robotic equipment to aid crop and livestock production
- Increasing the use of renewable energy produced on farm by improving energy storage and distribution
- The use of LED wavelength controlled lighting to aid crop production
- More efficient use of livestock slurries and manures, and digestate
3. Improve the processing of primary agricultural processes to shorten supply chains and deliver benefits to primary producers. Deadline for applications is 29 June 2018. Grant funding can help to pay for:
- Equipment and machinery
- Constructing or improving buildings associated with all aspects of processing
4. 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. Deadline for applications is 29 June 2018. Grant funding can help to pay for:
- Construction of a water storage reservoir (above or below ground) filled by either peak flow surface water abstraction, borehole or rain water harvested from buildings
- Abstraction point, pump and pipework to fill the reservoir
- Irrigation pump, controls, underground water distribution main
- Water metering equipment
- Best practice application equipment such as boom or trickle irrigation
- Software and sensors to optimise water application
5. Purchase of equipment to improve farm productivity. Applications need to be made between 7 February and 14 March 2018. This is targeted at supporting investment for very specific pieces of equipment. The grants are for a minimum of £3,000 up to a maximum of £12,000.
Generally, the minimum grant amount is £35,000 and must equate to less than 40% of the total project costs – so minimum spend is at least £87,500 to qualify for this type of grant funding. There are also certain eligibility criteria that need to be met in order to qualify.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countryside-productivity-scheme
If you have any projects and/or impending expenditure that you feel might qualify for this type of grant support, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our agricultural team and we will be happy to assist with the application process where appropriate.
