Banks & Co on hand to offer grants advice to farmers at Midlands Machinery Show at Newark Showground

With a plethora of machinery, technology and productivity grants expected to re-open in December /January, advice will be on hand at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show.

Giving advice about the various grants likely to be available will be property and business consultants Brown & Co, which will be exhibiting at the show.

It takes place at Newark Showground on November 8-9.

Tom Cheer, agricultural business consultant at Brown & Co, said: “The main grant relevant to the show is the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) Productivity and Slurry, which is very similar to the old Countryside Productivity Small Grants scheme and aims to improve productivity and efficiency on farm.”

FETF has had two rounds so far and is expected to open for a third in December 2023/January 2024. Direct drills, camera guided equipment, liquid fertiliser applicators and small seed drills for cover and/or companion crops, some on display at the Midlands Machinery Show, including from KRM, Grange Machinery, Sands Agricultural Machinery, Househam sprayers and Knight sprayers, have proved popular.

The list of eligible items varies from round to round but is usually added to, with the odd item removed, said Mr Cheer.

“The maximum FETF grant is £25,000 but farmers can choose as many items as they like to meet this amount. It is worth bearing in mind that for each item, a minimum specification must be met which the Rural Payments Agency is incredibly strict about.”

There is also the Animal Health and Welfare aspect of FETF as well as larger productivity grants which come under the Farming Transformation Fund (FTF) and includes water management – for building reservoirs and irrigation equipment; slurry infrastructure; adding value to agri foods; and improving farm productivity.

There are also opportunities with the Adding Value grant aimed at packhouse equipment like optical graders.

“We are looking forward to meeting farmers at our stand at the Midlands Machinery Show to discuss the grant opportunities available,” said Mr Cheer.