The HDS (Window 3) is a Capital grant scheme available to existing commercial horticultural producers across Wales. The Expression of Interest (EoI) is now open and will close on 12 January 2024. The aim of the scheme is to:

• support existing commercial horticultural producers to develop their businesses through investment in new equipment and technology that offer clear and quantifiable benefits to the horticultural enterprise.
• enable horticultural businesses to sustainably expand production, diversify into new crops, improve production efficiency and enhance product quality.
• enable horticultural producers to enter new markets, increase local employment and support the rural economy as part of the green recovery from Covid-19.

The maximum grant award is £100,000 and the minimum is £3,000.

The grant provides a maximum 40% contribution towards capital investments in equipment and machinery, (excluding VAT) which can be demonstrated as offering clear and quantifiable benefits to horticulture enterprises.

Your application may exceed the maximum grant, if selected, the related claim is capped to the maximum £100,000.

For further detailed information on the Scheme, please follow the link below:-

HDS Rules Booklet

If you would like further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or by email on ofice@carawales.co.uk

The SGYC Scheme (Window 2) is being offered to help pay for yard coverings and improved drainage systems for buildings. The Expression of Interest (EoI) is now open and will close on 15 December 2023.

Detailed guidance on this Scheme can be accessed from the link below:-

SGYC General Rules Booklet

If you are interested in the Scheme or wish to clarify anything, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk

• Standard cost for items. £3000 minimum grant (£7,500 spend) and £12,000 maximum grant (£30,000 spend). If you have previously applied for Farm Business Grant Yard Coverings, the total grant received will NOT count towards the maximum grant available through the Small Grants -Yard Coverings Scheme.
• For existing livestock feeding areas, livestock gathering areas and manure storage areas,
  applicants must demonstrate the whole area has a floor impermeable to water e.g. concrete.
• Existing flooring will need to be shown in the EoI application using geo-tagged photographs. If floor is
  covered in slurry or manure, the appropriate area needs to be washed prior to taking
  photos.
• Farmers will have 12 months from date of issue of Contract to complete the works and submit a claim.
• At the Claim stage, you will be required to submit confirmation re. planning permission and SUDS (deals with surface water on developments over 100sqm),  invoices for all claimed items and geo-tagged photos of the roofed area and supported items after the investment has been completed.

The AFTER photos will also need to show that the clean water from the new roof is diverted to a clean water drain, and that the slurry from the yard area is directed into a suitably constructed store or appropriate reception tank.

The Expression of Interest (EOI) window for the Spring/Summer Sown Growing for the Environment (Window 4) is now open and will close on 15^th December 2023. The minimum grant award is equivalent to the payment rate for 1ha of eligible crop,and the maximum grant is £5,000. EOI’s must be submitted via your RPW account – for more detailed information, please refer to the Rules Booklet (link below), in particular:-

• pages 20-21 (supporting documentation required with claim)
  
• pages 40-58 (Annex A – eligible crops & grant value).

GFTE Rules Booklet

If you would like further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or by email on ofice@carawales.co.uk

The Contract for this window will end 28 February 2025, all claims must be submitted by this date.

The Welsh Government has announced a new interim Habitat Scheme (for 2024 only) to replace Glastir Advanced, Glastir Organic and Glastir Commons. If you were previously part of these schemes, they will come to an end on 31/12/23.

Proposed payment rates are set at £69/ha for habitat land and £62/ha for woodland, with a tapering mechanism of 100% payment rate for the first 200ha, 50% payment rate for the next 200ha and 10% paymnet rate for anything over 400ha.

The Expression of Interest (EoI) is open until 10/11/23. More detailed information on the Scheme can be found by following the link below

https://www.gov.wales/habitat-wales-scheme-rules-booklet

If you would like to discuss the new Scheme and its requirements, or support to complete the EoI, please contact the office on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk

The Expression of Interest (EOI) window for the Autumn Sown Growing for the Environment (Window 3) is now open and will close on 14^th July 2023. The minimum grant award is equivalent to the payment rate for 1ha of eligible crop,and the maximum grant is £5,000. EOI’s must be submitted via your RPW account – for more detailed information, please refer to the Rules Booklet (link below), in particular:-

• page 20 (supporting documentation required with claim)
  
• pages 35-37 (Annex A – eligible crops & grant value).

Growing for the Environment Rules Booklet

If you would like further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or by email on ofice@carawales.co.uk

The Contract for this window will end 29 February 2024, all claims must be submitted by this date.

The Expression of Interest (EOI) window for Small Grants -Environment is 22 May to 30 June 2023.

This round of Small Grants -Environment will address the theme of Carbon, and is a standalone scheme providing a maximum of £7,500 funding per business for Capital Works Projects. These include:-

• Hedge coppicing and gapping up
• New hedge planting
• Hedge laying

(all the above 3 options with Fencing as supporting capital works)

Capital Works projects must be claimed for and submitted with before and after geo-tagged photos by 10/02/2024 (date to be confirmed when Contracts are issued).

Please click on the link below to view our Spring update. Topics covered include:-

• Basic Payment Scheme / Single Application Form 2023.
• The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 – NEW requirements from 01/01/23.
• Sustainable Farming Scheme -2025 – outline proposals

CARA Newsletter Spring 2023

From 01 January 2023, a number of added measures include:-

• Risk maps – these must be produced and maintained if you intend to spread manure and/or slurry on the holding. Maps should highlight areas on which spreading may cause a pollution risk,  including buffer zones, surface water and boreholes.
• Storage of Organic manure  – other than slurry, this must be stored in a vessel; covered building; on an impermeable surface; or a temporary field heap. Field heaps must be recorded on the risk map.
• Import/export of manure  – any manure imported/exported onto/off the holding must be recorded.
• Fertiliser Applications & Field Limits – fertiliser applied must not exceed specified crop limits, and the total amount of nitrogen in organic manure spread per Hectare on the holding  must not exceed 250kg for any 12-month rolling period.
  
• Records – a Nitrogen Management Plan must be established and records kept  for any nitrogen fertiliser application.

Please refer to the full guidance available from Welsh Government via the following link:-

https://www.gov.wales/water-resources-control-agricultural-pollution-wales-regulations-2021-guidance-farmers-and-land

If you require assistance from CARA with setting up /maintaining your records, please contact us on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk

The 2nd Expression of Interest (EOI) window for Small Grants -Efficiency is 16 January to 24 February 2023.

This  is a capital scheme designed to help farmers in Wales to improve the technical, financial and environmental performance of their farm businesses.

The maximum grant award is £12,000 and the minimum is £1,000.

Previous participation in the Farm Business Grant will not affect your ability to apply for the maximum £12,000 grant.

The grant provides a maximum 40% contribution towards capital investments in equipment and machinery (excluding VAT), which can be demonstrated as offering clear and quantifiable benefits to farm businesses.

The grant will be a maximum 40% contribution against actual invoiced costs up to the maximum referenced costs as stated within the list of eligible capital items.

To view the Rules Booklet, please click here

and for a detailed list of Eligible Capital Items, please click here

The EOI is only available  on your RPW Online account. If you require further assistance with your application, please contact us here at CARA on 01570 471516 or email office@carawales.co.uk