Round 1 of the highly anticipated Slurry Infrastructure grant will go live next week. Applications open on 6 December and close on 31 January 2023.
The Slurry Infrastructure grant has been designed to encourage farmers to store and use slurry in a safe, efficient way. The aim is to maximise crop nutrition and minimise nutrient losses into the environment.
We currently understand grants will be from £25,000 up to £250,000. This will comprise a 50% grant paid in arrears, with monies to be used to add new, replace existing, or upgrade currently compliant storage so the farm has 6 months covered slurry storage.
The grant will provide funding based on current stock numbers. But if the farm increases stocking rate, then 6 months’ storage must be maintained for the life of the grant funding agreement.
Funds can be used towards, pipework and items such as macerator pumps or safety fencing, but not towards planning permissions.
Please note the grant is a competitive one. The Rural Payments Agency say projects will be prioritised according to their environmental impact and location.
The blue zones on the map above have been designated as priority areas. You can take a closer look at these areas by viewing the interactive map on the Defra website. (In the left-hand Table of Contents select Land Based Schemes > Other Schemes > Slurry Infrastructure Grant – Round 1.)