Defra has announced it will be opening Round 2 of the Slurry Infrastructure Grants in November. It has also already published the full guidance to help farmers prepare in advance, this can be found at https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2023/10/12/slurry-infrastructure-grant-guidance-now-available-for-round-2/ . In summary, the grant provides funding of between £25,000 and £250,000 to improve on-farm slurry storage to go beyond legal minimums. Defra has also announced, based on feedback, that Round 2 will have the following five changes compared with the first round;
- Pig farms will be funded for up to 8 months storage to allow pig producers with less land to safely store organic nutrients until they can spread it or export it. Cattle farmers will remain at 6 months.
- Grant towards a slurry separator can be part of the project to increase storage capacity.
- Support for covering existing stores that are fit-for-purpose with impermeable covers.
- Adding the option to build in-situ cast concrete stores as an alternative to circular and panel stores, lagoons and bags.
- Introducing an option for landlords to underwrite grant funding agreements.
Due to these changes Defra will contact all Round 1 applicants with a ‘time-limited’ opportunity to update their application if they want to change it to include these updates.
In terms of managing demand, Round 1 was heavily oversubscribed. Defra has said it will be able to invite more projects to submit a full application this year and is encouraging everyone who would like a grant to submit and EOI when the online checker opens wherever they are located. It says if it does have to limit applications, it will ensure public money is targeted to where it will make the biggest environmental improvements. It will prioritise projects in areas where coordinated action is needed to reduce water and air pollution from farming. However, these areas have been significantly increased for Round 2 (these areas can be viewed on MAGIC Maps (see https://magic.defra.gov.uk/magicmap.aspx) by selecting Slurry Infrastrcture Grant – Round 2 (England)). Furthermore, those who aren’t shortlisted in Round 2, will have another opportunity to apply in 2024, where Defra will look to further widen the target areas.
To get ready for the opening of the online checker, applicants can work out how much slurry storage they require to reach the scheme storage requirements. This must be done using the latest version of the AHDB’s Slurry Wizard (see https://ahdb.org.uk/slurry-wizard).
Defra has also answered a common question it receives – whether all slurry stores will need to be covered by 2027? It has said ‘we do not expect that any new rules will require existing stores to be covered with impermeable covers by 2027’.