New Farming Investment Fund launched today

[BenAdamsAgri]

The grant states that 'You must not apply for a grant for any Items that you have already received public funding for.'
Does this relate to the specific item or category of the item?
e.g. a horsch direct drill bought under a previous scheme (leader/cpsg) you would be unable to purchase a new john deere direct drill under this new fetf grant?

@Janet Hughes Defra

 

[Still Farming]

Quite agree. Have been sat on a biomass alternative for diesel for over a decade now it would be good to get DEFRA to recognise farmers can provide alternatives to fossil fuels given the right support.

They only do the opposite, or do last minute, when it's too late allegedly!

 

[hally]

The whole idea of this new form of grant scheme, with standard pricing, is to reduce the complication and admin cost. I fail to see how it could be made much simpler, or admin cost could be reduced much.

Agreed, I have claimed a numerous items and hats off to Defra they have made it a lot simpler than it has been in the past. Money paid promptly also.

 

[Still Farming]

When SFP is coming to an end and we are told all the time to get use to it and "cut your cloth accordingly ", it seems crazy further Grant's are produced to make farmers spend more ????

 

[hally]

When SFP is coming to an end and we are told all the time to get use to it and "cut your cloth accordingly ", it seems crazy further Grant's are produced to make farmers spend more ????

Are we not investing to save costs whether in be labour ( handling systems) or fertiliser ( slurry equipment)

 

[Still Farming]

Are we not investing to save costs whether in be labour ( handling systems) or fertiliser ( slurry equipment)

Possibly short term but surly most intensive farms got it all anyhow?
Often Money makes money, and any discounts or aid often only benefits those that got it anyhow?

 

[Cowabunga]

When SFP is coming to an end and we are told all the time to get use to it and "cut your cloth accordingly ", it seems crazy further Grant's are produced to make farmers spend more ????

Spending more is entirely optional. While many farmers, just like society in general, just can't help themselves and spend more than is sensible, most will not spend at all and another proportion will spend on something they think will lower their cost of production in the medium and longer term.
I'm in the camp of, when the Welsh scheme is launched, will probably do exactly what I did with the first schemes and not spend a penny. There is nothing in the English one that would lower my costs or make life easier and nothing I want for the hell of it either. Obviously other farmers may well find something relevant to them and they should go for it. We all have different businesses.

 

[Cowabunga]

Possibly short term but surly most intensive farms got it all anyhow?
Often Money makes money, and any discounts or aid often only benefits those that got it anyhow?

For the reckless, this kind of grant could be counterproductive to their businesses, encouraging spending that really cannot be justified financially even after the grant. For others it may be of use and of real benefit

 

[Mccormick 94]

Hi @Janet Hughes Defra . Is there a specific site to see all of the different available grants as there seem to be so many which only a few people hear of? I heard yesterday from a customer of one for cubicle mattresses but had no knowledge of it. I've signed up to the future farms blog already which helps with some. Could just do with a centralised place for grant info.

 

[neilo]

Does it,, I am not sure that is necessarily true. Employed humans have an infinite ability to expand work to fill the hours for which they are employed.. Achieving more work does not necessary require more time or come at an increased cost. The process for approving smaller claims could be far simpler and streamlined compared to the extra checks required for the approval of larger complex claims....

With the way these particular grants are worked, yes. Admin is just a tick box exercise, having seen invoices to show that you’ve actually spent the money.
The only difference between claiming one small item, one large item, or a dozen different ones on one claim, is the number of boxes that need to be ticked.
You are self-certifying to say the item is up to the minimum spec, with a proportion checked afterwards at random (or can be).

There is no such thing as a complex claim under this scheme.

 

[Courier]

Can’t find anything about possible aid towards replanting of original (2008) Miscanthus (which continues to improve yield wise and sequester carbon in the meantime) with newer even higher yielding hybrid varieties . Maybe plant breeding is not considered a technological improvement ??

 

[DrWazzock]

So as usual the biggest get the most. You’d have thought with their economy of scale they wouldn’t need to go cap in hand to DEFRA.
Never mind, we’ll manage like we always have done.

 

[Jerry]

@Janet Hughes Defra can I seek calification on individual machines as to whether they meet the grant criteria? Is that best done here on the forum or are your team on the phones upto to speed with manfactureres and specification?

 

[Hampton]

Lots of people saying prices are not representative.

Anybody have a quote they could add to this thread to illustrate this?

Weaving sabre time 3m is £31k according to price list

 

[delilah]

Much reference with all these grants about 'improving productivity'.
Productivity is just a polite word for profit.
Our business wont see an increase in profit from new bits of kit, it will see it from structural changes in the food chain.
If Defra have cash to spend, it should go on things like capital and revenue cost support for small abattoirs and the myriad of other processing and retailing initiatives that are needed to revitalize primary production.

 

[Overby]

We've been toying with putting in a borehole, primarily for livestock need but possibility of arable too. Is there any scope to use the grant for the borehole? Some of the items appear to be on the list but there's nothing specific?

 

[Hampton]

@Janet Hughes Defra
Hi, as grateful as I am for the grants on farm equipment (I have used the small productivity grant in the past) will there be a replacement for the LEADER grant as I would like to diversify into holiday cottages?
I wasn’t in charge of the farm when they were previously available but I feel diversification into tourism would really help my business kick on.
Thanks

 

[bobk]

Is there a grant on fertiliser ?

 

[Still Farming]

Much reference with all these grants about 'improving productivity'.
Productivity is just a polite word for profit.
Our business wont see an increase in profit from new bits of kit, it will see it from structural changes in the food chain.
If Defra have cash to spend, it should go on things like capital and revenue cost support for small abattoirs and the myriad of other processing and retailing initiatives that are needed to revitalize primary production.

Improving profitability ?,when they want you to reduce carbon footprint ,reliance on fossil fuels, plant trees and cut livestock production???
What mixed messages are Government sending out!!!

 

[alomy75]

Lots of grassland subsoilers can also be used for arable. He-va stealth ticks all the requirements in the scheme

Yeah I know; that’s what one of my quotes was for. Circa 13000 and was one of the cheapest. But with the grant aimed at 3 leg grassland stuff and coming out at 2800 off; that’s still a big old wedge to pay out and I’ve said elsewhere; it will probably have devalued by that much by the time I get it home! They’re just a bit new to see many used ones but in these days of soil health and low disturbance it does surprise me they’re not front and centre on the list…especially as the grassland one is there.