GRANTS
Grants are often available to encourage good watercourse management, to encourage the use of new technology and renewable energy or just as a support for farmers. Check with your local government department for agriculture and rural affairs to see which grants are currently available.
Regional Grants
Don't forget there are regional grants available in some areas funded by local water companies to aid environment protection. You can claim for fencing, pipework, troughs and ram pumps.
Welsh Farm Business Grant 2020
THE WINDOW FOR APPLICATIONS IS NOW OPEN!
Must be registered with Farming Connect and Rural Payments Wales
Provides 40% contribution towards captial investments in equipment and machinery.
The minimum grant award is £3000, the maximum is £12000
Will pay £1998.40 towards hydraulic ram pumps.
For more information...
https://gov.wales/farm-business-grant
or download the booklets here...
Severn Trent's Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS)
Open for Applications
Must be farming within a priority catchment in the Severn Trent region (maps available online here)
Funding is available for fencing, pipework, water troughs and ram pumps.
Alternatively the Farmer Innovation will match fund £5,000 per application.
More info at: www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/environment/catchment-management/steps1/
SPRING 2 Environmental Protection Scheme
Run and Funded by South Staffs Water
Open for Applications
Farmers in the Blithe catchment can apply for a grant of up to £10,000 per farm.
More info at: www.south-staffs-water.co.uk/environment/catchment-management/spring
UK government grants available for the installation of a Papa Ram Pump
There are many grants available from the UK government and there are specific incentives available to those who install ram pumps in catchment schemes to prevent livestock from entering and damaging the natural watercourse. Water will be pumped from the watercourse to a drinking trough using a ram pump. This will enable the watercourse to be fenced off, thereby preventing water pollution and the destruction of the river bank caused by livestock drinking in a concentrated area.
For an overview of all available incentives, rules and compliance, entitlements, registration and claims see:
www.gov.uk/topic/farming-food-grants-payments/rural-grants-payments
If you meet the criteria, then the following may help with the purchase of the pump and with the cost of pipe work:
LV6: Ram pumps and associated pipework. Sum available: £1,480 per pump (as at Feb 2017)
Available for Mid Tier and Higher Tier in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution caused by farming where livestock have been excluded from stream or surface waters. This item will provide livestock with an alternative to drinking from watercourses. It will reduce bank erosion, sediment pollution and the faecal contamination of watercourses.
For restrictions/details see:
www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/ram-pumps-and-associated-pipework-lv6
LV8: Pipework associated with livestock troughs. Sum available: £2.65 per metre (as at Feb 2017)
Available for Mid Tier and Higher Tier in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution caused by farming where livestock have been excluded from stream or surface waters on a site where a new trough is needed to meet grazing requirements. It will provide livestock with an alternative to drinking from watercourses. It will reduce bank erosion, sediment pollution and the faecal contamination of watercourses.
For restrictions/details see:
www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/pipework-associated-with-livestock-troughs-lv8
For all the financial assistance available through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme see:
Scottish Grants
A recent grant for alternative watering was available for Scottish Farmers and Landowners through the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Services. Follow these links to check availability...
Details of the alternative watering scheme: Scotland alternative_watering.pdf
Agri-Environment Climate Scheme Details:
https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/agri-environment-climate-scheme/