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Small Grants Efficiency

Wednesday, March 20th, 2024

The 3rd Expression of Interest (EOI) window for Small Grants -Efficiency is 06 March to 16 April 2024.

This  is a capital scheme designed to help farmers in Wales to improve the technical, financial and environmental performance of their farm businesses.

The maximum grant award is £15,000 and the minimum is £1,000.

Previous participation in the Farm Business Grant or any previous rounds of the Small Grants Efficiency Scheme will not affect your ability to apply for the maximum £15,000 grant.

The grant provides a maximum 40% contribution towards capital investments in equipment and machinery (excluding VAT), which can be demonstrated as offering clear and quantifiable benefits to farm businesses.

The grant will be a maximum 40% contribution against actual invoiced costs up to the maximum referenced costs as stated within the list of eligible capital items.

To view the Rules Booklet, and a detailed list of Eligible Capital Items, please click here

The EOI is only available  on your RPW Online account. If you require further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk


Small Grants Environment – Landscape & Pollinators

Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

The Expression of Interest (EOI) window for Small Grants Environment is 08 January to 16 February 2024.

This round of Small Grants -Environment will address the theme of Landscape & Pollinators, and is a standalone scheme providing a maximum of £7,500 funding per business for Capital Works Projects. These include:-

  • Hedge coppicing and gapping up
  • New hedge planting
  • Hedge laying
  • Dry Stone Wall Restoration
  • Pond Restoration

(with Fencing as supportive capital works for some options)

Capital Works projects must be claimed for and submitted with before and after geo-tagged photos by 15/02/2025.

The relevant Scheme documents can be viewed by following the links below:
Technical Guidance Booklet

 Payment Rates

If you would like further assistance with your application, please contact the CARA Office as soon as possible on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk 


Cross Compliance 2024

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024
On 18/12/23,  Rural Payments Wales (RPW)  issued a letter to all their clients re. an update to Cross Compliance Regulations from 01 January 2024, and the new requirements applying to ALL LAND in Wales under the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021. The content of that letter is to be found below, and here is also the link to the Cross Compliance Verifiable Standards for 2024 – these must be followed if you intend to apply for payments under the Basic Payment Scheme 2024 :-

Verifiable Standards 2024

 

CARA staff will be available to help you meet the record keeping requirements, including preparation of a Digital Workbook and Risk Maps – if you would like to be added to the waiting list, please phone us on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk

RPW Letter of 18/12/23
Cross Compliance Factsheets and Verifiable Standards have been updated for 2024 to reflect changes to the requirements from 1 January 2024, good practice and to clarify wording. The revised documents are available at https://gov.wales/cross-compliance-2024.
The vast majority of Cross Compliance rules continue to apply as in 2023, however, you should regularly check and review the Cross Compliance regulations to ensure you remain compliant.
Statutory Management Requirement (SMR) 1 – Water Protection, has been updated to reflect new requirements applying to all land from 1 January 2024 under the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021. These changes include the requirement not to exceed a limit of 170kg of Nitrogen per hectare from all livestock manure across the whole holding, unless undertaking the Enhanced Nutrient Management approach and submitting notification to NRW by 31 March 2024.
It is important you understand how these changes may affect the management of your holding and if you need to take any action to meet the requirements of the regulations. To support the roll-out of these regulations a range of resources are available.
The updated requirements and detailed guidance, together with a digital workbook to help you meet record keeping requirements are available at https://www.gov.wales/control-agricultural-pollution-regulations-guidance
The Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations Helpline – 01974 847000 – is a dedicated technical helpline operated by ADAS on behalf of the Welsh Government, to support farmers through the introduction of the regulations on an individual farm basis. Farming Connect has a range of resources and information available. Further details can be found at
https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/ or by telephoning the Service Centre on 03456 000 813.
Additional Cross Compliance requirements will apply to all land in Wales from 1 August 2024,as part of the agreed transition period for land not previously in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ)


Sustainable Farming Scheme

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024

The final consultation for the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) was published in December 2023. To view a copy, please click on the link below:-

SFS Document

Before the consultation period closes on 7 March 2024, there will be a series of engagement events held around Wales during January and February with formal presentations and information stands where you can discuss how the proposed scheme actions can be carried out on your farm. Event dates and locations are as follows:-

  • 17 January 2024: Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon LL55 1AY
  • 18 January 2024: Pavilion, Llangollen, LL20 8SW
  • 22 January 2024: Llandovery Rugby Club, SA20 0BA
  • 24 January 2024: Livestock Market, Welshpool, SY21 8SR
  • 30 January 2024: The Cliff Hotel, Gwbert, Cardigan, SA43 1PP
  • 31 January 2024: The Plas, Narberth, SA67 7AB
  • 5 February 2024: Llanarth Village Hall, Raglan, NP15 2AU
  • 6 February 2024: Best Western Heronston Hotel, Bridgend, CF35 5AW
  • 9 February 2024: International Pavilion, Builth Wells, LD2 3SY
  • 14 February 2024: Y Plas, Machynlleth, SY20 8ER

If you wish to book a place at one of the above please click here:-

BOOK NOW


Agriculture Diversification Scheme (ADS)

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

The ADS (Window 2) is a capital grant scheme available to farmers in Wales. The Expression of Interest (EoI) is now open and will close on 12 January 2024. The objectives of the scheme are to:-

• support the establishment of new viable agricultural diversification enterprises on farms.
• support the development of existing novel or niche enterprises.
• build resilience into Welsh agriculture by developing diversified income streams.
• reduce the reliance on traditional agricultural enterprises.
• respond to new market opportunities and develop new markets.

Support is provided for projects that meet the following criteria only:
the development of existing, or establishment of new agricultural livestock enterprises that are not traditional enterprises in Wales

  • the growing of novel or alternative crops

The maximum grant award is £100,000 and the minimum is £3,000. It provides a maximum 40% contribution (against actual invoiced costs)  towards capital investments (excluding VAT), which can be demonstrated as offering clear and quantifiable benefits to farm businesses.

Your application may exceed the maximum grant, if selected, the related claim is capped to the maximum £100,000. You must be able to complete and claim all Capital Works items by 31 March 2025.

For further detailed information on the Scheme, please follow the link below:-

ADS Rules Booklet

If you would like further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or by email on ofice@carawales.co.uk


Horticulture Development Scheme (HDS)

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

The HDS (Window 3) is a Capital grant scheme available to existing commercial horticultural producers across Wales. The Expression of Interest (EoI) is now open and will close on 12 January 2024. The aim of the scheme is to:

  • support existing commercial horticultural producers to develop their businesses through investment in new equipment and technology that offer clear and quantifiable benefits to the horticultural enterprise.
  • enable horticultural businesses to sustainably expand production, diversify into new crops, improve production efficiency and enhance product quality.
  • enable horticultural producers to enter new markets, increase local employment and support the rural economy as part of the green recovery from Covid-19.

The maximum grant award is £100,000 and the minimum is £3,000.

The grant provides a maximum 40% contribution towards capital investments in equipment and machinery, (excluding VAT) which can be demonstrated as offering clear and quantifiable benefits to horticulture enterprises.

Your application may exceed the maximum grant, if selected, the related claim is capped to the maximum £100,000.

For further detailed information on the Scheme, please follow the link below:-

HDS Rules Booklet

If you would like further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or by email on ofice@carawales.co.uk


Small Grants Yard Coverings (SGYC)

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

The SGYC Scheme (Window 2) is being offered to help pay for yard coverings and improved drainage systems for buildings. The Expression of Interest (EoI) is now open and will close on 15 December 2023.

Detailed guidance on this Scheme can be accessed from the link below:-

SGYC General Rules Booklet

If you are interested in the Scheme or wish to clarify anything, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk

  • Standard cost for items. £3000 minimum grant (£7,500 spend) and £12,000 maximum grant (£30,000 spend). If you have previously applied for Farm Business Grant Yard Coverings, the total grant received will NOT count towards the maximum grant available through the Small Grants -Yard Coverings Scheme.
  • For existing livestock feeding areas, livestock gathering areas and manure storage areas,
    applicants must demonstrate the whole area has a floor impermeable to water e.g. concrete.
  • Existing flooring will need to be shown in the EoI application using geo-tagged photographs. If floor is
    covered in slurry or manure, the appropriate area needs to be washed prior to taking
    photos.
  • Farmers will have 12 months from date of issue of Contract to complete the works and submit a claim.
  • At the Claim stage, you will be required to submit confirmation re. planning permission and SUDS (deals with surface water on developments over 100sqm),  invoices for all claimed items and geo-tagged photos of the roofed area and supported items after the investment has been completed.

The AFTER photos will also need to show that the clean water from the new roof is diverted to a clean water drain, and that the slurry from the yard area is directed into a suitably constructed store or appropriate reception tank.


Growing for the Environment (GFTE)

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

The Expression of Interest (EOI) window for the Spring/Summer Sown Growing for the Environment (Window 4) is now open and will close on 15th December 2023. The minimum grant award is equivalent to the payment rate for 1ha of eligible crop,and the maximum grant is £5,000. EOI’s must be submitted via your RPW account – for more detailed information, please refer to the Rules Booklet (link below), in particular:-

  • pages 20-21 (supporting documentation required with claim)
  • pages 40-58 (Annex A – eligible crops & grant value).

GFTE Rules Booklet

If you would like further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or by email on ofice@carawales.co.uk

The Contract for this window will end 28 February 2025, all claims must be submitted by this date.


Habitat Wales Scheme

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

The Welsh Government has announced a new interim Habitat Scheme (for 2024 only) to replace Glastir Advanced, Glastir Organic and Glastir Commons. If you were previously part of these schemes, they will come to an end on 31/12/23.

Proposed payment rates are set at £69/ha for habitat land and £62/ha for woodland, with a tapering mechanism of 100% payment rate for the first 200ha, 50% payment rate for the next 200ha and 10% paymnet rate for anything over 400ha.

The Expression of Interest (EoI) is open until 10/11/23. More detailed information on the Scheme can be found by following the link below

https://www.gov.wales/habitat-wales-scheme-rules-booklet

If you would like to discuss the new Scheme and its requirements, or support to complete the EoI, please contact the office on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk

 

 


Small Grants – Environment (Water 2023)

Thursday, August 31st, 2023
The Expression of Interest (EOI) window for Small Grants -Environment is 21 August to 29 September 2023.

This round of Small Grants -Environment will address the theme of Water, and is a standalone scheme providing a maximum of £7,500 funding per business for Capital Works Projects. These include:-

  • Hedge coppicing and gapping up
  • New hedge planting
  • Hedge laying

(all the above 3 options with Fencing as supporting capital works)

  • Cross drains
  • Sleeping policemen
  • Guttering and downpipes
  • Maintenance of gateways

Capital Works projects must be claimed for and submitted with before and after geo-tagged photos by 15/03/2024.

The relevant Scheme documents can be viewed by following the links below:
General Rules Booklet
https://www.gov.wales/small-grants-environment-water-2023-general-rules-booklet-html#128471
Technical Guidance Booklet
https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2023-08/small-grants-environment-water-2023-technical-guidance.pdf
 Payment Rates
https://www.gov.wales/small-grants-environment-water-2023-payment-rates-html

If you would like further assistance with your application, please contact the CARA Office as soon as possible on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk