Farm grants and subsidies

Farm support is changing throughout Europe with the next round of the Common Agricultural Policy due in 2023 introducing a new way of working to achieve nine objectives for social, environmental, and economic sustainability. Brexit has enabled the UK to design agri-environmental schemes which better suit the needs of rural businesses which, introduces fundamental change in the way that farmers and landowners are supported by the government. With a move away from direct payments to environmentally focussed support schemes, rural businesses will need a major shift in their approach to these schemes.

The phasing-out of the Basic Payment Scheme
Central government support for farm businesses is due to be diverted away from the direct payments, which are currently paid under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), towards schemes that will deliver “public goods” for which the government is prepared to pay. Farmers are being encouraged to assess the impact of this change on their businesses, and we have outlined below a summary of the future payment changes.

Direct payments through the BPS will be phased out between 2021 to 2027. 

Countryside Stewardship

The Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) is an umbrella scheme which provides financial incentives to land managers to help improve and protect the environment. The CSS is open to new applications until July 2023 and is made up of the following elements:

• Higher Tier – target and complex management practices
• Mid Tier – options and capital items that together help to deliver a range of environmental benefits
• The 4 Wildlife Offers – simple set of options to help improve farmland wildlife.
• Capital Grant funding – including the Water Capital only grants, Hedgerow and Boundary grants

Facilitation Fund to support a local co-ordinated approach to environmental management. 

Find out more about the Countryside Stewardship Scheme >>

Lump sum exit scheme

Famers who wish to leave the industry and retire now have the option to receive a lump sum payment. It has been proposed by the government that this payment will be worth 2.35 times the average annual BPS payment received between 2018 and 2020, subject to a cap of £100,000.

Find out more about the lump sum exit scheme >>

Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS)

The Environmental Land Management Scheme (also known as ELMS) is a new overarching scheme that will reward environmentally conscious practices in farming, forestry, and land management. The Scheme will comprise three pillars: the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Local Natural Recovery and Landscape Recovery.

Find out more about ELMS >>

Farming in Protected Landscapes

This scheme is available for farmers in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), National Parks (NP) and the Norfolk Broads. Each designated area has a different pot of money, and the scheme is nonprescriptive, with applicants invited to state the type of project that they wish to undertake.

Slurry Investment Scheme

The aim of this scheme is to upgrade slurry storage systems, to reduce the pollution incident and cut emissions. This will be launched in 2022.

Tree Health Pilot Scheme

This scheme is to enable landowners to apply for funding to assist with reducing the spread of pests and disease. The Forestry Commission will invite people and groups in target areas to take part in the pilot scheme, which is running from August 2021 to 2024.

Farming Innovation Programme

The programme is for agri-tech innovation to support farmers, growers, foresters and other businesses to embrace innovative ways to maximise productivity and drive sustainability. The programme closed on 12th January 2022.

Local/Regional Grants

We are aware of local and regional grants from public and private sectors, please contact your local agent for more details.