Yesterday, DEFRA announced the expansion of its Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) programme to cover every farm in England by March 2023.
The CSF programme is a partnership between DEFRA, Natural England and the Environment Agency which offers farmers on-farm one-to-one advice in order to reduce water and air pollution.
Currently CSF support is only available to farmers in a ‘high water quality’ priority area, covering around 40% of the country. The programme offers technical advice, alongside access to standalone water capital grants and Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship schemes incorporating water capital items.
Many of our clients in high water quality priority area have already benefitted from CSF advice as well as grants for:
- Concrete yard renewal @ £27.14/sq. m.
- Roofing over livestock gathering areas, slurry stores and silage stores @ £62/sq. m.
- Machinery and livestock hardcore tracks @ £33/m
- Sprayer washdown areas @ £40/sq. m.
- Floating covers for slurry stores @ £5.60/sq. m.
- Arable reversion to grassland @ £311/ha
There are a number of other capital items and management options aimed at improving air and water quality that are also available.
This new announcement will provide a funding boost to all farmers and with increased access to the scheme it will generate significantly more water quality benefits. The CSF programme will benefit from an additional £17 million of funding to achieve the expansion.
Details of the application process for the expanded programme and funding available has not yet been published however if you are interested in accessing CSF advice when the programme rolls out then please do contact one of our Countryside Stewardship and Grants team on 01684 853400.