Farmers in England hoping to access the Farming Investment Fund (FIF) grant to upgrade slurry storage are being recruited to road test the Rural Payment Agency’s (RPA) application system, to establish whether it is fit for purpose.
Pig, dairy and beef farmers are wanted by the RPA to test the new Slurry Infrastructure Grant online application checker. The checker will be the first stage in making a grant application before the scheme is launched this autumn.
The RPA wants volunteers to test the service this month in a process that is not expected to take longer than 25min.
See also: Slurry infrastructure grant details for England released
The National Pig Association (NPA), which is urging members to get involved, says volunteers will be given a username and password to access the online service.
They will be asked to answer a series of simple questions about a proposed project to increase their slurry storage capacity.
“This can be a project you might be planning, or a proposed project you might like to do in the future,’’ says the NPA.
“This will help the RPA finalise the eligibility process to ensure it works for you as an applicant.’’
The testing is planned during the next two weeks.
Farmers can register their interest to be involved at FTF@rpa.gov.uk
The new FIF grant will start at £25,000 and rise to a maximum of £250,000 for each applicant business and pay for farms to improve or expand slurry storage capacity to cover six months and to cover those grant-funded stores with impermeable covers.
Use of organic nutrients is covered by the grant too with support to pay for equipment such as slurry pumps and pipes.
