Leader Grants

[davidc]

Tentatively exploring this grant. Emailed the Council for the form, which they haven't got yet as changing it, so they've asked me what I was wanting the grant for. Explained raising pigs for pork - new venture and want to expand.
Looking for :-
Livestock trailer / tow bar
polytunnels
Pickup truck
build new area / housing for the pigs and handling systems
refrigerated back off a wagon.

They've emailed back saying all except possibly the refrigerated unit would not be acceptable. I've had a look at the application criteria and as far as I can see my requirements would comply, albeit perhaps with a bit of negotiation / slight change on emphasis.

Anyone else gone for and got funding for similar items through this grant?

Cheers

David

 

[Princess Pooper]

Uusually 'standard' ag equipment is not eligible so that is why. We'd all love to have a grant on a new pickup for the farm! eg in our leader area someone got a grant for some farm equip but it was a landscaping business not for agricultural work. The chill trailer in your example is for food not agriculture but the livestock trailer is a standard ag piece of equipment. Another business got a grant towards mobile cattle handling equip on animal welfare and safety grounds, but the grant awarded was after deducting a certain amount for a 'normal' crush because that is standard ag equipment.

 

[Darranfarm]

Is the LEADER grant available in Wales?

 

[Chasingmytail]

Is the LEADER grant available in Wales?

of course Im on the rural board for small grants there are loads in Wales and many in rural areas. Loads of money to give away.

 

[Chasingmytail]

Tentatively exploring this grant. Emailed the Council for the form, which they haven't got yet as changing it, so they've asked me what I was wanting the grant for. Explained raising pigs for pork - new venture and want to expand.
Looking for :-
Livestock trailer / tow bar
polytunnels
Pickup truck
build new area / housing for the pigs and handling systems
refrigerated back off a wagon.

They've emailed back saying all except possibly the refrigerated unit would not be acceptable. I've had a look at the application criteria and as far as I can see my requirements would comply, albeit perhaps with a bit of negotiation / slight change on emphasis.

Anyone else gone for and got funding for similar items through this grant?

Cheers

David

A truck will not be part of it for sure. Yes in the past got money for meat sales - scales, labels, chiller cabinet, website etc.

 

[S J H]

of course Im on the rural board for small grants there are loads in Wales and many in rural areas. Loads of money to give away.

Have you got any examples of what people can ask for? When I had a brief look, it seemed to me that they seem to want to corner the world market of micro breweries.

 

[Chasingmytail]

The side I deal with is the rural wards so small money. Therefore consultancy, lots of the council apply for money (annoying), arts and crafts. To be honest we struggle to get farmers and creative people to apply so so far its been the LA from depts applying for money. 1. growing project for children who drop out of school, 2. money for study in commoners, 3. plenty of applications for feasibility studies 4. DNA and surveys on orchards....... since Ive been involved we've struggled to get any applications from farmers in the area but in the past forestry equipment,

I would say the market is saturated with ciders and jams. They are looking for forestry, diversification, crafts, community groups & growing. They are looking at something that preserves a job, brings in money to the locality, diversification, crafts and innovation.

A farmer could for example - A cutting room, log splitter, soap making using goat milk, feasibility study into renewable energy.

You put together a few pages why you want it and how it meets the criteria. I have a form somewhere. Then you can get help with the wording. Followed by full application.

It saddens me that the money seems to go back to the council and no matter what they do they cant attract farmers. It doesnt have to be a big project, it can be a small simple project but it benefits the environment and brings in an income.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Plenty of farmer recipients locally (for eligible projects) but different LEADER areas can have differing priorities

 

[Wink]

Our family business received a recent grant to build a farm shop from a redundant end to an existing building
We were already processing our own meat and selling at markets/deliveries etc. for many years but wanting an outlet for more people to call into us and sell more local farm produce from other small local businesses.

 

[Darranfarm]

of course Im on the rural board for small grants there are loads in Wales and many in rural areas. Loads of money to give away.

Is it ok to send you a PM?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I am enquiring about converting an old building to a small office, was expecting a no but initial feedback looks too good to be true.

Offering 40% of the total sum up to 50k in value. Helpful as quote for conversion was 110k!

Need to work out what hoops I need to jump through but for 45k I am prepared to go to Pilates to be more flexible!

 

[dannewhouse]

any other grants available or advise?
I'm looking to change some old stone barns into 4 property's probably to rent out but could be holiday lets if I could be convinced

I'm basically 1 mile from my nearest leader area even though I'm as rural as the area they have they claim I'm not in a rural area

any ideas where I can go from here? id rather like some grant money but always feel Its just out of reach?

(just to add coal to the fire, our welsh friends are always complaining about how many grants are available to England yet atleast every 5 years theyre doing something they completely don't need because theres a grant on it. (like cow tracks at the moment!!!)

I would really really really like that grant of £24 per m2 for concreting yards? I could make a lovely yard and area for stacking bales etc! but I'm not on a run off area to a river or whatever I read

 

[Chasingmytail]

If your not in a rural ward then the LEADER doesnt apply. You need to contact yr LA and they should email over. You wont get a grant for a concrete yard either. Grants are there to improve the prospects of the farm and give a return. There are grants under tourism but in Wales 40% isnt very enticing however on conversation its a good figure. The LA should be able to point you in the right direction, if not try NFU.

 

[T Hectares]

I'm applying for a Leader grant for our Biomass business.

Lots of paperwork.....

Will make a big difference to the business if we are successful, fingers crossed !!

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I've/ I touch with our local council about LEADER funding for assisted steering. After asking DEFRA they said it didn't qualify. Variable rate fertiliser would have though. It doesn't really make sense as the remit was "innovation", "increased efficiency" "improved animal welfare" or "environmental benefit". To my mind assisted steering had much more impact on a grassland farm like ours than variable rate P&K.

They are prepared to grant aid our proposed cattle handling race and weighing facilities though.

If the criteria are that restricted then I'm not surprised that they are struggling to get farmers to apply. It grinds my gears badly though that councils and other public bodies are getting large lumps of the money. How does that meet the criteria?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I'm applying for a Leader grant for our Biomass business.

Lots of paperwork.....

Will make a big difference to the business if we are successful, fingers crossed !!

Ooooh interesting, curious to know more if you are happy to share?

 

[Chasingmytail]

They are prepared to grant aid our proposed cattle handling race and weighing facilities though.

oh thats interesting - desperately need a weighing system. Cattle system is crap but will need some serious planning and changing.

 

[T Hectares]

Ooooh interesting, curious to know more if you are happy to share?

Happy to share, don't think I'm going to jeopardise anything by outlining the application

We've been approved to go forward to the Panel in June.

We are applying for a drying floor to dry woodchip, and to make a concrete bunker for storing wet chip on, we'll have to fund the fan and heat exchanger ourselves as there's a crossover with Rhi funding.

It's a lot of paperwork, but it's hopefully worth it as we won't be going ahead without the grant money !

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Oh ok.

So your getting a payment to burn chip, possible uplift in drier chip and then getting a grant for putting in the system to dry it!? Nice!

As a side, I had a meeting with a national chip supplier down south last month, and he said the value of chip drying has fallen through the floor as every man and his dog has set up a system so if you do go ahead try and get some contract signed up prior.

 

[T Hectares]

Oh ok.

So your getting a payment to burn chip, possible uplift in drier chip and then getting a grant for putting in the system to dry it!? Nice

As a side, I had a meeting with a national chip supplier down south last month, and he said the value of chip drying has fallen through the floor as every man and his dog has set up a system so if you do go ahead try and get some contract signed up prior.

We are already suppyling 2000 m3 of chip over what we use ourselves, this is being put in to increase production as we are at capacity with our current system....

There are a lot of people at it !!