The Slurry Infrastructure grant is available to pig, beef and dairy farming systems producing slurry, who have a slurry store located in England. The grant supports the replacement, building of or expanding on existing slurry stores to provide farmers with 6 months of storage. The application process occurs through two stages, reflecting the competitive nature of the grant.
The updated details of the grant highlight the specific slurry stores the grant may be used for. This includes tanks, lagoons and concrete stores, which must have an impermeable cover. Also, large permanent bags, unless the slurry produced is through acidification, or a slurry bag is to be installed. As well as supporting the expansion of slurry stores, the grant will allow farmers to purchase items for basic maintenance. Including reception pits, slurry pumps and agitators.
If successful, how much could I receive?
The minimum funding available to apply for is £25,000 and the maximum grant is £250,000 for each applicant. To calculate the amount you could receive from the grant, the Slurry Infrastructure grant uses standard costs. If successful, the standard cost per item, or 50% of the total invoice costs could be claimed on the fund. Whichever is the lowest amount. The aim of the grant is to allow farmers to invest into their slurry infrastructure. Ultimately providing better use of organic nutrients, improved water and air quality, as well as reducing greenhouse gases produced.
Who does the Slurry Infrastructure Grant prioritise?
When assessing applicants, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will prioritise projects which have the most extensive benefit on the environment. If there is too high of a demand in the first round, RPA will then prioritise areas across England which need urgent support in order to either restore natural habitats or reduce nutrient pollution from agriculture.
Can I apply for a Slurry Infrastructure Grant?
If you are a pig, beef or dairy farmer, and your farming system already produces slurry, you can apply. Both land owning and tenant farmers can apply. However individuals who farm as a tenant must gain the necessary permissions from their landlord. As well as this, the tenancy agreement must be in place for the entire duration of the grant funding agreement. The agreement is five years after the final payment. It is still possible to apply if your current agreement is not as long as five years. This is as long as the agreement is expected to continue.
It is not possible to obtain grant funding if you already have 6 months of serviceable storage. Nor if you do not produce slurry, or intend to use the grant for other means outside storing slurry. Only pig, beef and dairy farmers are considered. Public organisations cannot apply to the grant scheme, along with farming businesses which only provide contractor services.
What type of slurry storage can I use the grant for?
The grant may be used to pay for a variety of slurry storage methods. A full list of which can be found by the link below. As previously mentioned, the newly built/expanded stores must be fitted with an impermeable cover, unless slurry bags are being installed or acidification the method of producing slurry. The grant may be used to pay for a fixed or floating flexible cover. Thus preventing rainwater from entering and subsequently reduce ammonia emissions. However, the covers must be bought for new or expanded stores. The grant cannot just be used to purchase solely a cover for a pre-existing store.
Applications are still open, however the online checker to understand your requirements has now closed.
There are two stages to the application process. The first stage is understanding your slurry storage requirements. As stated, RPA will prioritise projects having the greatest benefit on the environment, based on area, if demand is high.
The second stage is where a full application is made, if the applicant is eligible and their project is prioritised due to its environmental benefits. The deadline for full applications is 28th June 2024.
If the full application is successful, meaning the applicant meets all requirements, RPA will offer a grant to the applicant.
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