Beef and sheep farmers wanting to test a new approach to the management of their stock and business are being urged to apply for up to £5,000 under the Farm Innovation Grant (FIG) scheme.
Farmer Innovation Grants, are awarded through a competitive bidding process, to groups of English beef and sheep farmers who are interested to test or assess an element of best practice on-farm, or implement a piece of new technology which will help improve returns for their livestock enterprise. The aim of these awards is to facilitate projects which will result in valuable learnings, which AHDB can share with the wider beef and sheep industry.
Application Process:
How FIG works?
AHDB Beef and Lamb is offering funding to support groups of farmers wanting to adopt and evaluate an element of best practice on their farms or try out a new piece of technology. The funding is made over a one year period and will generally have a ceiling of £5,000. The funding allows groups of farmers to get technical help to set up their project and cover some of the costs associated, for example data collection and analysis, or advice on the best approach to address an issue on their range of farm circumstances. A budget for expected expenditure is required with an application. Funding for novel equipment is limited to £1000 per project and at the discretion of AHDB Beef and Lamb.
Farmer groups will be expected to contribute some of their own money and time to the project which should be shown in the proposal as a farmer contribution.
One of the conditions of the funding is that a report will be provided to AHDB to allow the lessons learnt to be communicated to other levy payers. A farm walk or event may also be requested to demonstrate the outcomes to other farmers.
Applications for 2016 funding now open.
Applications for 2016 funding show open
The third year of FIG grant applications is open to all English beef or sheep farmers, there should be at least three farmers in a group. Groups may be supported by a supply chain, veterinary practice, consultant or breed society.
The funding is available to support groups of innovative farmers (minimum of 3) wanting to adopt and evaluate an element of best practice on their farms or try out a new piece of technology. The funding is made over a one-year period and will have a ceiling of £5,000. The funding allows groups of farmers to get technical help to set up their project and cover some of the costs associated. This could include example data collection and analysis, or advice on the best approach to address an issue on their farms.
A budget for expected expenditure is required with an application. Funding for novel equipment is limited to £1,000 per project and at the discretion of AHDB Beef & Lamb.
Farmer groups will be expected to contribute some of their own money and time to the project, which should be shown in the proposal as a farmer contribution.
One of the conditions of the funding is that an interim progress and a final report will be provided to AHDB Beef & Lamb to allow the lessons learnt to be communicated to other levy payers. A farm walk or event may also be requested to demonstrate the outcomes to other farmers.
Please complete and return the FIG application form to ku.gro.bdha@prb by 7 February 2016 or call 024 7647 8834 with any questions.
