Countryside Productivity Scheme

Detailed guidance on Countryside Productivity grants has now been published online (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/countryside-productivity-scheme).  There are two types of grants.  Small grants, £2,500 to £35,000, can be used for small grant items (one or more).  Large grants, £35,000+, can be used to apply for large grant items or small grant items but not a mixture of both.  Grants are available in the following areas:

• Animal Productivity, Health and Welfare – automated dairy cow lameness detection, collar based rumination monitors, food analysis devices, calving detectors, activity monitors to detect oestrus, handling and weighting systems for pigs.
• Arable and Horticultural Productivity – LED lights with wavelengh control, controlled atmosphere storage, remote crop sensors, crop robotics.
• Forestry Productivity – woodland harvesting, extraction, small scale processing.
• Resource Management – slurry application systems, air scrubbers and heat exchangers, LED lighting for livestock housing, improving water management, poultry litter drying systems. 

The Grants will cover 40% of the costs and will be paid after the work is completed. For small grants a completed application form must be emailed to the RPA by 4pm on the 30^th June.  For large grants the application process is in two parts; an outline application will need to be emailed to the RPA by 4pm on the 30^th June, if the outline is successful a full application will need to be completed, however there is no guarantee that funding will be granted.

The full guidance contains details about how files need to be saved, the number and types of quotes needed to be obtained and the evidence required when submitting an application.  Applications are completed in Excel, handwritten applications will not be accepted.  Applications will competitive with decisions made after the 30^th June, once all applications have been submitted.