A grant funding scheme to help farmers buy equipment to improve the productivity of their farm is now open.

The RDPE Countryside Productivity Small Grant (CPSG) scheme has opened for the second round, with funding available for equipment to achieve improvements in either technical efficiency, animal health and welfare, resource efficiency or nutrient management. Grant funding is available at 40% of the standard cost of items, with a minimum grant of £3,000 and maximum of £12,000.

Charles Skelton, of Savills food and farming team in the Midlands, said:

“A lot of the equipment available under this scheme isn’t typically available for grant funding, so this is a good opportunity for farmers to invest in some relatively low capital cost equipment that can make a real difference day to day.

“In the first round of the scheme, cattle and sheep handling systems proved popular, along with variable speed vacuum milk pumps and badger proof feed troughs.”

There are 26 new items this time round and applicants who had funding in the first round can submit a new application to receive funding in the second round, for a total value of £12,000 for both applications.

Applications can be made online and the outcome of applications will be announced after the closing date of September 3.

For further information or advice in compiling an application, please contact Charles Skelton at Savills on 07972 000 192.