Written by Administrator from Farming Monthly National
The grant is available to help replace, build additional, expand or cover existing slurry stores to reach the grant storage requirements. This will help you improve the use of organic nutrients on your farm and reduce pollution. Your slurry storage capacity must be based on existing livestock numbers.
This grant is only available for slurry stores located in England.
Eligible slurry stores include tanks, lagoons, and concrete stores fitted with impermeable covers and large permanent bags. You must fit grant funded stores with an impermeable cover, unless you are installing a slurry bag or you treat your slurry through acidification.
The grant will also fund items to help you manage your slurry store, such as reception pits, slurry pumps and agitators. For Round 2, you can also get a grant towards a slurry separator.
Investing in future-proofed slurry infrastructure will help to:
• make better use of organic nutrients
• mprove water quality
• improve air quality
• reduce greenhouse gases
The Slurry Infrastructure grant Round 2 uses reference costs to work out the maximum amount of grant you could get. The online checker will give you an estimate based on your project needs. When you come to claim your grant, you will get the amount listed for your items (the ‘reference cost’) or 50% of the total invoice costs, whichever is the lower amount. For full details of the reference costs of eligible items read the item specifications.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will prioritise projects that have the greatest environmental benefit. If oversubscribed in Round 2, RPA will prioritise projects in areas that need urgent action to reduce water and air pollution from agriculture and restore natural habitats.
RPA expect to fund more than double the number of projects that were shortlisted in Round 1, so we have significantly expanded the priority areas. You can check how applications will be prioritised in Round 2.
There will be a further round in 2024.
Who can apply
You can apply for a Slurry Infrastructure grant Round 2 if your farming system already produces slurry, and you farm pigs, beef or dairy.
Both land owning and tenant farmers can apply. The slurry store must be built on land you own or farm as a tenant.
If you are offered a grant, RPA will send you a grant funding agreement. This sets out conditions that you must meet for 5 years from the payment of your final claim. During this time, you must:
• not fall below the grant storage requirements, including any changes in animal numbers
• keep your grant funded slurry store covers in place (except during periods of maintenance)
• produce and use a nutrient management plan based on up-to-date soil sampling
• follow best practice guidance for using a mechanical separator, if your project includes one
You may have to repay your grant if you do not meet these conditions.
If you are a tenant, it is your responsibility to obtain any necessary permissions from your landlord. If you are on a tenancy of less than 5 years but you expect it to continue, you can sign the grant funding agreement on your own.
Alternatively, you can ask your landlord to underwrite your agreement. This means that if your tenancy ends your landlord agrees to take over the project, for example by completing the conditions themselves or passing the agreement on to a new tenant. This approach is optional and RPA will only ask for confirmation when you submit a full application.
Who cannot apply
You cannot get grant funding if you:
• do not currently produce slurry
• produce slurry but already meet the grant storage requirements and all your stores are fit-for-purpose
• intend to use the store for anything other than storing slurry
The following groups are not eligible for a grant:
• other types of farms, for example poultry, sheep or arable-only farmers
• horticultural growers
• farming businesses that only provide contractor services
• public organisations, including Crown bodies and non-departmental public bodies
What the grant can pay for
You can choose from different types of stores, store covers and store accessories. All items must meet the specifications.
Types of slurry store
You can use the grant to pay for:
• above-ground steel slurry stores
• precast circular concrete slurry stores
• earth bank lagoons, with or without synthetic liner
• stores using precast rectangular concrete panels
• in-situ cast reinforced concrete stores
• large volume supported slurry bags (over 2,500 cubic metres (m3))
Types of slurry covers
You can use the grant to pay for fixed or floating flexible covers.
You must fit new or expanded stores with an impermeable cover unless you are installing a slurry bag or using acidification. This will prevent rainwater from entering the store and reduce ammonia emissions.
Acidification is the use of acid treatment or other technologies (such as plasma treatment) to lower and maintain the pH value of slurry to below 6 at the point of storage. Stabilising the pH of slurry substantially reduces ammonia emissions. To be exempt from covering your store, you must be able to acidify all your slurry before you apply. You cannot use this grant to pay for slurry acidification systems.
In Round 2 you can use the Slurry Infrastructure grant to cover existing stores that are fit-for-purpose. This will help you keep more rainwater out of your stores and count towards your storage capacity. You can only get a grant to cover existing stores to help you meet the minimum storage requirements for the grant.
Slurry store accessories
You can also use the grant to pay for additional items for your grant funded slurry store, such as:
• a slurry separator, gantry and temporary storage for the stackable material from the separator
• a reception pit
• electric-powered slurry transfer pump
• powered take off (PTO) or hydraulically driven chopper pump
• galvanised steel pipework 100mm or 150mm diameter
• polyethylene (PE) or equivalent pipework 100mm or 150mm diameter
• under-floor transfer channels
• slurry store wall or in-situ mixers
• inspection platform with ladder for above-ground concrete and steel slurry stores
• safety fencing for stores constructed below ground level, earth-bank lagoons and slurry bags
For the full list of accessories and more details, read the item specifications. All items bought must meet the minimum specification.
You cannot incur any eligible costs before the start date on your grant funding agreement. This includes:
• committing to any eligible costs as set out in the specifications, including paying deposits
• placing an order
• starting construction work, such as digging out the lagoon
Any costs you incur before the start date on your grant funding agreement may make your whole project ineligible if it is considered to have been started.
You can do work to prepare for your project before you apply, such as seeking quotes from suppliers, soil sampling and applying for planning permission.
The post Slurry Infrastructure grant Round 2 appeared first on Farming Monthly National.
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The grant is available to help replace, build additional, expand or cover existing slurry stores to reach the grant storage requirements. This will help you improve the use of organic nutrients on your farm and reduce pollution. Your slurry storage capacity must be based on existing livestock numbers.
This grant is only available for slurry stores located in England.
Eligible slurry stores include tanks, lagoons, and concrete stores fitted with impermeable covers and large permanent bags. You must fit grant funded stores with an impermeable cover, unless you are installing a slurry bag or you treat your slurry through acidification.
The grant will also fund items to help you manage your slurry store, such as reception pits, slurry pumps and agitators. For Round 2, you can also get a grant towards a slurry separator.
Investing in future-proofed slurry infrastructure will help to:
• make better use of organic nutrients
• mprove water quality
• improve air quality
• reduce greenhouse gases
The Slurry Infrastructure grant Round 2 uses reference costs to work out the maximum amount of grant you could get. The online checker will give you an estimate based on your project needs. When you come to claim your grant, you will get the amount listed for your items (the ‘reference cost’) or 50% of the total invoice costs, whichever is the lower amount. For full details of the reference costs of eligible items read the item specifications.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will prioritise projects that have the greatest environmental benefit. If oversubscribed in Round 2, RPA will prioritise projects in areas that need urgent action to reduce water and air pollution from agriculture and restore natural habitats.
RPA expect to fund more than double the number of projects that were shortlisted in Round 1, so we have significantly expanded the priority areas. You can check how applications will be prioritised in Round 2.
There will be a further round in 2024.
Who can apply
You can apply for a Slurry Infrastructure grant Round 2 if your farming system already produces slurry, and you farm pigs, beef or dairy.
Both land owning and tenant farmers can apply. The slurry store must be built on land you own or farm as a tenant.
If you are offered a grant, RPA will send you a grant funding agreement. This sets out conditions that you must meet for 5 years from the payment of your final claim. During this time, you must:
• not fall below the grant storage requirements, including any changes in animal numbers
• keep your grant funded slurry store covers in place (except during periods of maintenance)
• produce and use a nutrient management plan based on up-to-date soil sampling
• follow best practice guidance for using a mechanical separator, if your project includes one
You may have to repay your grant if you do not meet these conditions.
If you are a tenant, it is your responsibility to obtain any necessary permissions from your landlord. If you are on a tenancy of less than 5 years but you expect it to continue, you can sign the grant funding agreement on your own.
Alternatively, you can ask your landlord to underwrite your agreement. This means that if your tenancy ends your landlord agrees to take over the project, for example by completing the conditions themselves or passing the agreement on to a new tenant. This approach is optional and RPA will only ask for confirmation when you submit a full application.
Who cannot apply
You cannot get grant funding if you:
• do not currently produce slurry
• produce slurry but already meet the grant storage requirements and all your stores are fit-for-purpose
• intend to use the store for anything other than storing slurry
The following groups are not eligible for a grant:
• other types of farms, for example poultry, sheep or arable-only farmers
• horticultural growers
• farming businesses that only provide contractor services
• public organisations, including Crown bodies and non-departmental public bodies
What the grant can pay for
You can choose from different types of stores, store covers and store accessories. All items must meet the specifications.
Types of slurry store
You can use the grant to pay for:
• above-ground steel slurry stores
• precast circular concrete slurry stores
• earth bank lagoons, with or without synthetic liner
• stores using precast rectangular concrete panels
• in-situ cast reinforced concrete stores
• large volume supported slurry bags (over 2,500 cubic metres (m3))
Types of slurry covers
You can use the grant to pay for fixed or floating flexible covers.
You must fit new or expanded stores with an impermeable cover unless you are installing a slurry bag or using acidification. This will prevent rainwater from entering the store and reduce ammonia emissions.
Acidification is the use of acid treatment or other technologies (such as plasma treatment) to lower and maintain the pH value of slurry to below 6 at the point of storage. Stabilising the pH of slurry substantially reduces ammonia emissions. To be exempt from covering your store, you must be able to acidify all your slurry before you apply. You cannot use this grant to pay for slurry acidification systems.
In Round 2 you can use the Slurry Infrastructure grant to cover existing stores that are fit-for-purpose. This will help you keep more rainwater out of your stores and count towards your storage capacity. You can only get a grant to cover existing stores to help you meet the minimum storage requirements for the grant.
Slurry store accessories
You can also use the grant to pay for additional items for your grant funded slurry store, such as:
• a slurry separator, gantry and temporary storage for the stackable material from the separator
• a reception pit
• electric-powered slurry transfer pump
• powered take off (PTO) or hydraulically driven chopper pump
• galvanised steel pipework 100mm or 150mm diameter
• polyethylene (PE) or equivalent pipework 100mm or 150mm diameter
• under-floor transfer channels
• slurry store wall or in-situ mixers
• inspection platform with ladder for above-ground concrete and steel slurry stores
• safety fencing for stores constructed below ground level, earth-bank lagoons and slurry bags
For the full list of accessories and more details, read the item specifications. All items bought must meet the minimum specification.
You cannot incur any eligible costs before the start date on your grant funding agreement. This includes:
• committing to any eligible costs as set out in the specifications, including paying deposits
• placing an order
• starting construction work, such as digging out the lagoon
Any costs you incur before the start date on your grant funding agreement may make your whole project ineligible if it is considered to have been started.
You can do work to prepare for your project before you apply, such as seeking quotes from suppliers, soil sampling and applying for planning permission.
The post Slurry Infrastructure grant Round 2 appeared first on Farming Monthly National.
Continue reading more content from Farming Monthly...
If you are enjoying what you read then why not considering subscribing here: https://www.farmingmonthly.co.uk/subscriptions/