Sustainable Agri Capital Grant Scheme (SACGS) advice

[Jockers84]

Good afternoon,

I've had my application for the above grant approved, before I start please forgive my terminology if you see any mistakes. In this scheme there was no need to supply quotes and the items are offered at fixed cost, It's a simple enough idea and saves some leg which was appreciated.

What I'm trying to get my head around is exactly what/where the department will draw the line on the vague description they have given for some of the items I've applied for? The main one being a sheep handler. I'm also wondering if I can get the goods receipted on/under the fixed cost does this mean I can try and barter for a product with more bells and whistles?

Also what alternatives are on the market that comparable with the Ritchie combi clamp?

My understanding is the scheme was over subscribed so more funding was added, this in turn has meant there's now long waiting lists for certain items as the supply chain can't meet the demand. One of the fixed requirements of claiming the approved funding is that all items have to be purchased and delivered by the end of March 2021. This has since been relaxed by six months although I've not studied the finer detail so please correct me if that's B/S.

I'm also looking for the best option for a hand held EID reader @ £600 & electric fence energiser @ £250.

Bit of a meandering post, just looking to get the best product possible with the funding available.

Regards

 

[Top Tip.]

Good afternoon,

I've had my application for the above grant approved, before I start please forgive my terminology if you see any mistakes. In this scheme there was no need to supply quotes and the items are offered at fixed cost, It's a simple enough idea and saves some leg which was appreciated.

What I'm trying to get my head around is exactly what/where the department will draw the line on the vague description they have given for some of the items I've applied for? The main one being a sheep handler. I'm also wondering if I can get the goods receipted on/under the fixed cost does this mean I can try and barter for a product with more bells and whistles?

Also what alternatives are on the market that comparable with the Ritchie combi clamp?

My understanding is the scheme was over subscribed so more funding was added, this in turn has meant there's now long waiting lists for certain items as the supply chain can't meet the demand. One of the fixed requirements of claiming the approved funding is that all items have to be purchased and delivered by the end of March 2021. This has since been relaxed by six months although I've not studied the finer detail so please correct me if that's B/S.

I'm also looking for the best option for a hand held EID reader @ £600 & electric fence energiser @ £250.

Bit of a meandering post, just looking to get the best product possible with the funding available.

Regards

You will have to provide a receipted invoice for the sheep handler and you will have been told how much you will get for grant aid for it as well. Your claim has to be in by 31st March but you have until the end of September to actually take delivery of the item. The department will check with the supplier that you actually have the item on order.

 

[Nithsdale]

You will have to provide a receipted invoice for the sheep handler and you will have been told how much you will get for grant aid for it as well. Your claim has to be in by 31st March but you have until the end of September to actually take delivery of the item. The department will check with the supplier that you actually have the item on order.

Govt won't pay you a penny until it has been delivered.

Any item must be bought and paid for, with appropriate paperwork (invoice/receipt) delivered into SGRPD office before 31st March - even if you can't take delivery of the item until September. Once item is delivered you have to present proof of delivery, govt will then pay you the grant.


As for the OP, the guidance paperwork outlines what are and are not eligible for each grant section/category. Any supplier worth their salt will know if what they sell complies.


You're not looking at a hand held Eid reader @ £600 - that's the category for a simple stick reader. Read the guidance and understand what you've applied for.

 

[Rappa Niall]

Good afternoon,

I've had my application for the above grant approved, before I start please forgive my terminology if you see any mistakes. In this scheme there was no need to supply quotes and the items are offered at fixed cost, It's a simple enough idea and saves some leg which was appreciated.

What I'm trying to get my head around is exactly what/where the department will draw the line on the vague description they have given for some of the items I've applied for? The main one being a sheep handler. I'm also wondering if I can get the goods receipted on/under the fixed cost does this mean I can try and barter for a product with more bells and whistles?

Also what alternatives are on the market that comparable with the Ritchie combi clamp?

My understanding is the scheme was over subscribed so more funding was added, this in turn has meant there's now long waiting lists for certain items as the supply chain can't meet the demand. One of the fixed requirements of claiming the approved funding is that all items have to be purchased and delivered by the end of March 2021. This has since been relaxed by six months although I've not studied the finer detail so please correct me if that's B/S.

I'm also looking for the best option for a hand held EID reader @ £600 & electric fence energiser @ £250.

Bit of a meandering post, just looking to get the best product possible with the funding available.

Regards

Combiclamps are really hard to get with grant schemes running in both Scotland and England at present. I enquired today for a customer to be told that orders taken now would be for September delivery. For me that is too close a call, especially just now when there are so many reasons why a factory might have delays. I therefore advised the customer that I would not be able to supply, as I did not want to risk jeopardising the rest of his claim if I could not deliver.
In a Rappa yard trailer the Rappa Racegrip is an excellent option but being modular it only fits in that trailer. £2754 for the Racegrip with all options included in it.
The hand held reader at £600 is a stick reader, not the stock recorder type at around £1500. The Agrident AWR250 with protective carry case is £550. There are cheaper and dearer out there priced on level of functionality.
The solar panel electric fence energiser .... depends what you intend using it for. If it’s a single cattle wire the Speedrite S150 will do 500m of 1 or 2 polywires, the S 500 will do 1000m of the same Or 1800m of 3 line polywire for sheep. The S150 is £248. The S500 is £313. For longer stretches the S1000 would be best at £348. You are welcome to call to discuss. 07967416973. Niall

 

[hinchy]

https://m.facebook.com/HectonUK/

A chap I know is importing these. Looking to get some over here in March I think.

 

[Jockers84]

Update - ordered combi clamp and accoutrements with a local agent, May delivery.

I'll take a bit of time to look at reviews on the stick reader & electric fence energiser, possibly try and roll it all together and see if I can get a discount

 

[Top Tip.]

Update - ordered combi clamp and accoutrements with a local agent, May delivery.

I'll take a bit of time to look at reviews on the stick reader & electric fence energiser, possibly try and roll it all together and see if I can get a discount

You are fortunate,I’ve been told July for my combi clamp.

 

[Jockers84]

You are fortunate,I’ve been told July for my combi clamp.

They had pre booked 20 when the scheme was first announced so that took up some of the initial demand, a supplier in Orkney had done the same.

I can see the delivery slipping to the right, more inline with your date but fingers crossed though. They possibly didn't want to put me away with a sore heart, gives some room to barter discount if they don't meet the date

 

[Rappa Niall]

https://m.facebook.com/HectonUK/

A chap I know is importing these. Looking to get some over here in March I think.

They had pre booked 20 when the scheme was first announced so that took up some of the initial demand, a supplier in Orkney had done the same.

I can see the delivery slipping to the right, more inline with your date but fingers crossed though. They possibly didn't want to put me away with a sore heart, gives some room to barter discount if they don't meet the date

When equipment is in such short supply, discount is not really a term you hear too often.

 

[Jockers84]

When equipment is in such short supply, discount is not really a term you hear too often.

It's a long road, they'll need the buyers at some point, part of the course getting some sort of discount

 

[The Jolly Farmer]

How will a combi clamp, EID reader and electric fence energiser make your business sustainable?

 

[Nithsdale]

It's a long road, they'll need the buyers at some point, part of the course getting some sort of discount

Aye... good luck with that!

 

[unlacedgecko]

How will a combi clamp, EID reader and electric fence energiser make your business sustainable?

It's not my business or application, but these are my thoughts.

Combi clamp will save wear on the shepherd, meaning the same labour unit can work more stock and/or work for longer.

EID reader will assist with flock level recording, identifying those animals that perform best with least inputs.

Solar energiser will mean less batteries to power electric fence. More electric fence means more subdivision, means better grazing management and less need for supplementary feed.

 

[Agrivator]

It's not my business or application, but these are my thoughts.

Combi clamp will save wear on the shepherd, meaning the same labour unit can work more stock and/or work for longer.

EID reader will assist with flock level recording, identifying those animals that perform best with least inputs.

Solar energiser will mean less batteries to power electric fence. More electric fence means more subdivision, means better grazing management and less need for supplementary feed.

Any business that has to maximise physical performance isn't sustainable.

 

[The Jolly Farmer]

It's not my business or application, but these are my thoughts.

Combi clamp will save wear on the shepherd, meaning the same labour unit can work more stock and/or work for longer.

EID reader will assist with flock level recording, identifying those animals that perform best with least inputs.

Solar energiser will mean less batteries to power electric fence. More electric fence means more subdivision, means better grazing management and less need for supplementary feed.

Why the need for a 50% grant?
If you take a Combi clamp as an example, if it allows a shepherd to look after more stock or reduces the labour cost per ewe then the profit on the extra ewes or the reduced labour cost on the flock should be able to pay the full cost of the Combi clamp.
If not, then the purchase of the Combi clamp is not sustainable.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Why the need for a 50% grant?
If you take a Combi clamp as an example, if it allows a shepherd to look after more stock or reduces the labour cost per ewe then the profit on the extra ewes or the reduced labour cost on the flock should be able to pay the full cost of the Combi clamp.
If not, then the purchase of the Combi clamp is not sustainable.

That's a different question from your original one.

And I agree with your point. I've never received any grant or sub.

 

[Jockers84]

Apologies for dropping out for a few days, busy making the most of free labour during the holidays. Reply to few comments below. Happy new year when it comes, all the best for 2021.

Aye... good luck with that!

Cheers, shy boys get no cake....

It's not my business or application, but these are my thoughts.

Combi clamp will save wear on the shepherd, meaning the same labour unit can work more stock and/or work for longer.

EID reader will assist with flock level recording, identifying those animals that perform best with least inputs.

Solar energiser will mean less batteries to power electric fence. More electric fence means more subdivision, means better grazing management and less need for supplementary feed.

Yes couldn't have answered much better myself, improving efficiency to improve margins.

Any business that has to maximise physical performance isn't sustainable.

Hi thanks for the post, unfortunately I'm a bit lost with this though, can you expand on your point please?

Why the need for a 50% grant?
If you take a Combi clamp as an example, if it allows a shepherd to look after more stock or reduces the labour cost per ewe then the profit on the extra ewes or the reduced labour cost on the flock should be able to pay the full cost of the Combi clamp.
If not, then the purchase of the Combi clamp is not sustainable.

If they offer me a 50% grant for an item we were planning to buy anyway, I won't question their motives for being so generous.

 

[TGM]

Govt won't pay you a penny until it has been delivered.

Any item must be bought and paid for, with appropriate paperwork (invoice/receipt) delivered into SGRPD office before 31st March - even if you can't take delivery of the item until September. Once item is delivered you have to present proof of delivery, govt will then pay you the grant.


As for the OP, the guidance paperwork outlines what are and are not eligible for each grant section/category. Any supplier worth their salt will know if what they sell complies.


You're not looking at a hand held Eid reader @ £600 - that's the category for a simple stick reader. Read the guidance and understand what you've applied for.

since the English grant is based on standard costs and not actual costs you can have an Eid reader almost 100% funded. You can buy a reader suitable for recording full management data lookup of animal data on the screen of the reader and transfer of the data to a pc for less than £500 and the 40% of the high rate of grant almost fully covers this.

 

[Nithsdale]

since the English grant is based on standard costs and not actual costs you can have an Eid reader almost 100% funded. You can buy a reader suitable for recording full management data lookup of animal data on the screen of the reader and transfer of the data to a pc for less than £500 and the 40% of the high rate of grant almost fully covers this.

The OP is in Scotland, as am I. So it's Scotgov rules on the grant. What you can do in England is irrelevant.

 

[TGM]

Good point. But maybe some lucky English breeder will read the post. Meanwhile the rest all have to work on actual costs.