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All the latest news 

From Kelly Farm Consulting

Improving Farm Productivity Grant – ROUND 2

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!


Are you looking to improve your farm productivity through the use of robotics or automation systems, wavelength specific LED lighting, advanced ventilation control units or solar PV systems? If yes, then this grant may be for you!


Who can apply?

You must be a farmer or registered contractor in England.


Both land owning and tenant farmers are eligible. For tenant farmers, it is your responsibility to obtain the permissions from the landlord for projects. You can also ask your landlord to underwrite the agreement if necessary.

What is available under the grant funding?

Capital items are available to help improve farm productivity through the following ways.


  1. Improving efficiency and effectiveness of primary agricultural production.

  2. Reducing the farm’s environmental impact resulting in a positive contribution to net zero and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction.

  3. Introducing technical innovation to optimise livestock production and field operations.

  4. Using automation in areas where access to labour is an issue.

How much funding is available?

For farm productivity grants where robotic/ automation equipment, wavelength specific LED lighting and/or advanced ventilation control units are included (not including solar PV equipment), the minimum grant is £25,000 (40% of £62,500). The maximum grant is £500,000 per business.


If your application is for solar PV equipment only, the minimum grant you can apply for is £15,000 (25% of £60,000). The maximum grant being £100,000 per business.


You must submit two separate applications if you wish to apply for both the Solar grant and Farm Productivity grant.

What items could be funded?

Table 1 gives further detail on the items you may consider under the grant funding.



Application Process

The application process is 2 stages and will be scored against the funding priorities. Grants will be awarded to the highest scoring applications!

Stage 1 – Online Checker

The online checker will determine if you are eligible and how well the project will meet the funding priorities.


We do not have an official date for the online checker opening, but it is anticipated to open in January and run through to March 2024.

Stage 2 – Full Application

If successful at Stage 1, you will be invited to make a full application. If the full application scores highly enough, the RPA will make a grant offer.

If you have a project that will fit the grant funding items above, get in touch with a member of the Kelly Farm Consulting Team to further discuss your options! We will also be in touch with clients who have already expressed interest in projects eligible under this funding.


Charlie Davies

07904 601104


Laura Cureton

07399 117257


Sam Kelly

07777 696080


Office 01454 614624

 
 

Slurry Infrastructure Grant – Round 2

Details for Round 2 of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant have now been announced by DEFRA and the RPA. We have answered some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to outline the detail of the scheme!


Am I eligible to apply?

  • ·You must already be producing slurry and be a pig, beef or dairy farm.

  • Landlords and tenants can apply. As a tenant you must obtain necessary permissions from the landlord. A landlord can also underwrite the agreement i.e. if the tenancy ends, the landlord agrees to continue the project.


How much funding is available?

  • £25,000 - £250,000 per applicant business (per round).

  • Final grant payments will be based on the reference cost contribution for the items needed (see Table 1) or 50% of the actual invoice costs at claim stage. i.e. whichever is the lowest amount.

What will the grant pay for?


The grant will pay for improving storage to 6 months for beef and dairy and has increased to 8 months for pigs. This includes;

  • Replacing existing stores that are no longer fit for purpose

  • Adding additional storage, if other stores that will stay part of your system meet slurry storage regulations, were built to relevant standards and remain fit for purpose

  • Expanding an existing store, for example by adding another ring to a suitable steel tank

  • Covering new and existing stores.

The full list of items is detailed in Table 1.


How do I apply?


The application is a 3 stage process.


Stage 1 - Slurry Wizard and Online Checker


  • Open November 2023 (date tbc).

  • You must understand your current and future slurry storage requirements. To do this, you must use the latest version of the Slurry Wizard (October 2023).

  • You should then complete the online checker to see if you are eligible and how much grant funding you may get.

  • If there is a high demand, projects will be prioritised based on locations with the greatest environmental outcomes. These locations have been updated for Round 2 and will be released in November.


Stage 2 - Slurry store location and design assessment

  • If successful at Stage 1, you will be asked to complete a slurry store location and design assessment form which will then be assessed by the Environments Agency (EA).

  • This must be submitted by 30th September 2024.


Stage 3 - Full application

  • If the EA are satisfied the location and design assessment, you will then be invited to submit a full application. This will be assessed by the RPA to ensure the project is viable.

  • This must be submitted by 27th June 2025.

  • If the full application is successful, the RPA will offer a grant.


What are the changes to the scheme from Round 1?

  1. Pig farms will now be offered funding up to 8 months storage. All other species will continue to be offered funding for 6 months storage.

  2. Grant will be available for slurry separators (screw or screen press separator units, gantry and temporary storage of stackable materials)

  3. Support for covering existing stores with impermeable covers. This option can be used on its own or alongside building a store but must meet scheme storage requirements and minimum grant thresholds.

  4. Added option to build in-situ cast concrete stores as an alternative to circular and panel stores, lagoons and bags.

  5. Introduced option for landlords to underwrite grant funding agreements. This will give tenants more confidence to apply. i.e. the landlord agrees to take over the agreement if tenant does not complete project.

  6. If you were successful in Round 1, the RPA will contact you directly to discuss updating your application to include the above changes if necessary.


Will there be any further Rounds of the grant?


Round 3 is anticipated to open in 2024.


Where can I find out more detail?


Get in touch with the Kelly Farm Consulting Team to discuss your options! Our consultants can help determine how the grant could be utilised on your farm and assist with the application process.


DEFRA, along with the RPA and EA will also be hosting a webinar on the 9th November at 14:30. Tickets for the free webinar will shortly be available at the following link A Defra webinar: The Slurry Infrastructure grant Round 2 Tickets, Thu 9 Nov 2023 at 14:30 | Eventbrite



Table 1 - Round 2 Slurry Infrastructure Items





 
 

Maize Harvest and Feed Markets Update

The recent hot weather has really accelerated maize development. Some farms are already harvesting earlier planted maize with dry matters increasing significantly in the last two weeks. However, maize crops are variable across the South-West which highlights the challenges of the growing year with a very dry start to the season, followed by prolonged wet periods. A number of plants were heat-stressed at emergence, and this has affected entire crops in some cases.


There was a great deal of concern about forage stocks earlier this summer following prolonged dry spells in May and June. July and August brought some much-needed rain which encouraged grass growth and has improved forage stocks. However, quality is extremely variable. Making maize harvest extremely important this year.


When assessing maize crops, the quickest and easiest test to gauge the dry mature and maturity of the crop is the “milk-line” test. This test involves collecting a number of random cobs through the field and assessing kernels to see where the milk-line meets the starch. This test helps to give an indicator of crop maturity and dry matter content. The diagram below explains how this milk line moves down through the crop as it becomes more mature:




Image Credit: https://www.researchgate.net


When harvesting maize, target dry matters should be between 31-35%, to achieve this, the milk line needs to be 1/3rd or ½ way down the kernel. Sometimes it can be difficult to see the milk line, so take a kernel halfway down the cob and see if milk comes out when squeezed. If watery or milky then wait, if creamy then harvest within a week. With some plants dying, it might be worth cutting when the grains are only just creamy, or the entire crop could be too dry, and mould could become a problem on the face.


Similar to last year, we have seen a real variety of maize crops on farm. Lots of plants have double and even triple cobs in some cases which can be attributed to heat stress. Before harvesting, it will be important to compare a large number of cobs to obtain a representative sample. It is also possible that crops could reach the desired dry matter without reaching the desired height or density.


It is important to remember to base harvesting decisions on the dry matter and grain stage of the cob. Allowing the kernels to over-mature will result in a reduction in starch digestibility and increases the likelihood of unprocessed kernels to reach the clamp.


It is therefore advisable to check your maize crops early and thoroughly, as harvesting could well be earlier than expected!



Feed Markets


Following a turbulent few seasons in the feed markets, prices have largely stabilised and reduced in some cases. The Ukraine/Russia war is still very much a factor in markets; however, we are also seeing other factors at play.


Energies

The energies market is best described as two-tiered, with a lot of offsetting factors. The Russia/Ukraine war is still influencing markets, however, Ukrainian grain is still reaching the market and is being exported via rail/road with increased exports through the Danube ports. It is still unknown whether these export routes will be able to cope with demand.


Lower quality grain from the EU harvest will add a premium to milling markets. There are also reports of a tightening wheat supply in Australia and Canada. Nevertheless, VERY competitive Russian exports combined with a large maize supply forecast to reach the market, has kept a ceiling on energy markets.


Proteins

Protein markets have been largely driven by weather and crop stock reports. Global rapeseed markets are well supplied coming into the winter. However, poor weather conditions in the US particularly have reduced the quality of soybean crops, resulting in stronger prices which have kept markets elevated.


The good news is that longer term, large soybean crops from South America are expected, which will likely reduce the headline prices. So, covering proteins for next spring/summer is not advisable at the moment.


For any help in assessing crops or discussing forage or feed requirements for the winter, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch!



Charlie Davies

07904 601104


Laura Cureton

07399 117257



Sam Kelly

07777 696080



Office 01454 614624

 
 

Kelly Farm Consulting 

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