Both Defra and the Scottish Government have recently made announcements regarding funding towards improving slurry management on farms.
Scotland
In Scotland the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme 2022 (SACGS) will open in the spring, offering support towards the purchase of low-emission slurry spreading equipment and slurry store covers; both proven to reduce ammonia emissions. Full scheme guidance is not available yet, but Scottish farmers, crofters and agricultural contractors who store and/or spread livestock slurry or digestate will be able to apply for the grant. All businesses will need to be registered with the SGRPID. Grants will be based on standard costs. In the pilot (see below) this was at 50% or 60% in the Highlands & Islands, with a £20,000 maximum grant for a single business. The scheme is expected to be open for 6 weeks in the spring for applications. If an application is successful a Carbon Audit and Nutrient Management plan will be required.
The SACGS Pilot Scheme launched in autumn 2020 offering grants towards the cost of specific items identified to reduce GHG emissions and improve land and livestock management. It seems this round is just concentrated on improving slurry management.
England
In England Defra has previously implied there would be a separate Slurry Investment Scheme available in autumn 2022. The latest from Defra is that support for slurry management equipment and technology will be integrated into the Farming Investment Fund (FIF), rather than a separate scheme. Readers will recall the FIF has two ‘levels’ – the Farming Equipment & Technology Fund (small grants for a specific list of items) and the (larger) Farming Transformation Fund. Both have already offered funding for improving slurry management, but Defra will be inviting views on how to improve this in future rounds. It is likely that a round within the Farming Transformation Fund will open this autumn, offering significant grant contributions to help farmers achieve 6 months storage capacity. The scheme, if over subscribed, could be competitive and therefore projects maximising environmental outcomes will prioritised. More information is expected through the spring and we will endeavour to keep readers up-to-date.