5th March 2018

Roger Parry & Partners’ Welshpool office is holding a ‘Grants Drop-In Session’ later this week to help farmers that are considering applying for the Farm Business Grant before the deadline of 16 March 2018.

The Drop-In session, which is to be held on Wednesday, 7 March, between 1pm – 5pm in the Welshpool office, 1 Berriew Street, will give farmers the opportunity to learn more about the Farm Business Grant and assistance to apply.

The new Farm Business grant could provide 40% funding towards capital investments in equipment and machinery that have been pre-identified as offering clear and quantifiable benefits to farm enterprises. The key investment themes include cattle equipment, sheep equipment, pig equipment, general equipment, crop management, energy efficiency, resource efficiency together with ICT. The minimum grant available is £3,000 and the maximum is £12,000.

Clare Williams, Surveyor with Roger Parry & Partners in the Welshpool office (pictured) will be leading the Drop in Session. She said, “We are urging Welsh farmers to consider applying as soon as possible to ensure they get a share of this funding. As always we are happy to help with the application process if farmers need assistance.”

Key requirements for the Farm Business Grant include:

• The farm must have registered with Farming Connect since October 2015 before submitting an application under this scheme and have a valid Customer Reference Number (CRN) and County Parish Holding Number (CPH). You can register with Farming Connect by calling the Farming Connect Service Centre on 08456 000813

• The business must have a minimum of three hectares of agricultural land, or be able to demonstrate 550 standard labour hours, which will be determined at registration with Farming Connect

• A partner in the farming business must attend a Farming for the Future event organised by Farming Connect. The individual attending must be registered as a business partner with Farming Connect and Welsh Government Rural Payments Wales

• Businesses with a total turnover exceeding £1m are not eligible for Farm Business Grant

• Businesses that have been successful under the Sustainable Production Grant Scheme will not be eligible.

Clare added, “Farmers in England shouldn’t feel left out. The Countryside Productivity Small Grant is a very similar grant and is open until 14 March.”

If farmers would like Roger Parry & Partners to assist with applications for either the Farm Business Grant or the Countryside Productivity Small Grant please telephone Clare on: 01938 554499.