Forestry Commission
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This page tells you about grants and other funding currently open or opening soon.
You may be able to apply for one or more of the available grants and funding schemes if you or your land are eligible. The guidance for each scheme will explain where this is possible.
Manage your land to benefit the environment
Apply through an environmental land management (ELM) scheme to farm productively and in a way that benefits the environment. There are 3 ELM schemes.
1. Sustainable Farming Incentive
Grant value: between 10 and 732 per hectare, depending on the action.
Closing date: to be confirmed.
If you were eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2022 or 2023, youll be able to apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
SFI is a 3-year agreement made up of a choice of environmental land management actions you need to complete to receive payment. These actions will help you manage your land in a more sustainable way. The number of actions will expand each year until the full range is available by 2024.
If you are eligible, you can apply for up to 23 actions for:
- soil health
- moorland assessment
- hedgerows
- integrated pest management
- nutrient management
- farmland wildlife on arable and horticultural land
- farmland wildlife on improved grassland
- buffer strips
- low input grassland
Read the guidance for SFI 2023 to apply.
2. Countryside Stewardship (CS)
Grant value: amounts vary depending on your CS agreement.
Closing date: some grants are open all year, others are time-limited - read the CS guidance for details.
You can apply for Countryside Stewardship to get paid to:
- increase biodiversity
- improve habitat
- expand woodland areas
- improve water quality
- improve air quality
- improve natural flood management
Use the CS grant finder to see whats available to achieve these environmental outcomes.
3. Landscape Recovery
Closing date: the scheme is now closed.
Landscape Recovery pays groups of farmers and land managers to do long-term, large-scale projects together. Land must be in England and consist of at least 500 connected hectares.
The Landscape Recovery scheme supports:
- net zero carbon emissions
- protected sites
- wildlife-rich habitat
Invest in equipment, technology and infrastructure to increase productivity
You can apply for grants through the Farming Investment Fund (FIF) to invest in new technology, equipment and infrastructure.
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF)
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) has 3 grants to help you buy items to:
- improve productivity
- manage slurry
- improve animal health and welfare
Open: first window will open for applications shortly.
Grant value: up to50,000 towards productivity and slurry items and up to 25,000 towards animal health and welfare items.
Closing date: first window closing date will be confirmed shortly.
Water Management grant (round 2)
Grant value: 40% of eligible costs of a project up to 500,000.
Closing date: now closed.
Read further information if youre an agreement holder.
Slurry Infrastructure grant (round 2)
Grant value: between 25,000 and 250,000.
Closing date: now closed.
The Slurry Infrastructure grant: round 2 is for pig, beef and dairy farmers whose farming systems produce slurry. It helps replace, build new or expand existing slurry stores to provide 6 months storage. You can check if youre eligible to apply using the eligibility checker.
Guidance for round 1 applicants. If youve been invited to make a full application, you have until 11:59pm on 28 June 2024 to submit your documents.
Adding Value grant
Grant value: between 25,000 and 300,000.
Closing date: applicants who were successful at stage 1 must submit their full application by 31 January 2024.
The Adding Value grant is available for growers or producers to add value to eligible agricultural products after they have been harvested or reared. You can only apply if you were successful at stage 1 of the application process.
Calf Housing for Health and Welfare grant
Closed: eligibility checker closed on 30 November.
The eligibility checker to apply for a calf housing grant is now closed. Read the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare grant guidance to find out about the next stage of the application process.
Improving Farm Productivity grant (round 2)
Opens: eligibility checker opens in January 2024.
Grant value: between 25,000 and 500,000 for robotic or automatic equipment
between 15,000 and 100,000 for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Closing date: 21 March 2024.
Round 2 of the Improving Farm Productivity grant opens in January 2024 for farmers and horticulturalists in England. Find out what the grant can pay for and how to apply.
Improve water quality and air quality
You can apply for grants to improve water and air quality through CS. Check the CS grant finder for water quality options and air quality options. You can choose grants suitable for your land and apply to the relevant CS grant scheme.
Grant value: amounts vary depending on your CS agreement.
Closing date: some grants are open all year, others are time-limited - read the CS guidance for details.
Reduce flood risk
You can apply for grants to reduce flood risk through CS. Check the CS grant finder for natural flood management options. You can choose grants suitable for your land and