£34 Million Boost for Farmers to Combat Slurry Pollution
The government has announced a massive £34 million fund to help farmers upgrade slurry storage and manage water more efficiently. This cash splash comes as part of the new Plan for Water, aimed at cutting pollution and gearing up for climate change.
Cleaning Up Farming’s Slurry Problem
Slurry waste from farms is a major source of river pollution. Up to half of England’s slurry stores are outdated and leaky, causing nasty runoff when the rain hits. With this grant, farmers can get between £25,000 and £250,000 to build or upgrade slurry tanks, lagoons, and storage facilities.
More than 1,200 farms applied in the first round, but only 374 will get a shot at the £33.9 million pot, nearly triple last year’s £13.2 million funding. The government had to balance demand with the limits of suppliers’ capacity to deliver these projects.
Water Management Grant: £10 Million More for Irrigation
April will see the launch of round two of the Water Management Grant. This £10 million fund helps farmers improve irrigation systems and build on-farm reservoirs to secure water for their crops.
Grants will range from £35,000 to £500,000, catering to farms big and small but prioritising projects with the greatest impact. Farmers can soon check online if they qualify.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer Speaks Out
“Communities across the country want to see clean and plentiful water in our rivers and streams, and farmers have a huge role in helping to deliver this.”
“We know that farmers want to do the right thing, which is why — as part of today’s Plan for Water — we’re providing even more funding for farmers both to reduce their water pollution from slurry and better manage the water on their farms.”
Big Picture: Tackling Pollution and Climate Change
The new Plan for Water tackles all sorts of water woes — from storm overflows, pesticides, plastic, and road runoff to the growing pressure of hotter, drier summers and booming population. The government is doubling funding for free farming advice to £15 million and fast-tracking the Sustainable Farming Incentive to keep nutrients and soil on farms, not in rivers.
All this funding is part of the government’s annual £2.4 billion investment in farming during this Parliament.
