The UK government helps farmers and farm businesses across the UK to produce the best possible food and agriculture products. Through various rural, food and farm grants and government funding schemes, the UK supports innovation, sustainable farming, business development, managing risk, trade and market development.

Farm grants, farm loans and other funding options for UK farmers and agri-business owners are now available.

Farm Grants and Government Funding Programmes

As a small business in the agriculture industry (or a farm owner), you could benefit from the schemes and services offered by the UK government:

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)

The biggest of the rural grants and payments that provide help to the farming industry. Farmers apply once a year (between March-May) and payments begin in December.

Countryside Productivity Scheme

This programme provides funding for projects in England which improve productivity in the farming and forestry sectors and help create jobs and growth in the rural economy.

Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)

Provides funding for projects that improve agriculture, the environment and rural life. There are different rural development schemes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

RDPE Growth Programme

Grants for projects in England that create jobs and growth in the rural economy. The 3 types of grants include business development, food processing and rural tourism infrastructure.

You can take a look at other rural schemes, farm grants and government funding programmes for farmers right here.

Applying to Farm Grants and Farming Funding Programmes

Just as with any business, when applying for farm grants to get funding for your farming business you have to think about the following:

• Do you have a business plan for your farm business?
• How much funding do you need for your farm?
• What do you need the funding for?
• Do you know which farming funding schemes exist?

If you don’t have a business plan for your farm yet, now is the time to get one.

The Business Plan Builder Tool here at UK Startups can help. Be sure to learn more about how easy it is to get your farming business plan done.

As you develop your business plan you will have to answer certain questions about funding needs and such. This is the perfect way to understand what you will need in terms of farm grants or farm loans. Be sure to get that done and figured out before you apply for funding.

If you are not sure which farm grants or farming funding programmes exist, the Funding Database has all of the available funding programmes offered by the UK government for small business owners and farmers.

Availability of Farm Grants and Farm Loans

As a farm owner, obtaining funding from the government could mean the difference between success and failure.

It is important to take action and consider the availability of farm grants, farm loans and tax credits that farmers could benefit from.

Farming funding programmes are available to existing farm owners as well as those just starting out in the farming sector. Be sure to take full advantage of the programmes which have been provided to you by the UK government on the local, regional and national levels.

While farm grants and farm loans may be available across the UK, certain geographical areas of the nation have better programme investment than others.

Take a moment now and use the Assessment Tool to establish your funding needs as a small business owner.

How Can Farm Funding Schemes Be Used

Each farm grant or farm loan programme provided by a different funding agency has different rules and criteria for how the funding can be used. Typically, a programme requires you to apply with your funding needs already established in your business plan.

A typical small business owner/farmer would benefit from these funding programmes with the following needs:

• Farm technology upgrade and improvement
• Energy efficiency improvements on the farm
• Projects to reduce environmental impact by farm
• Farm employee wage/subsidies
• Livestock purchase
• Farm equipment purchase
• Improving farm building or covering leasehold improvement costs
• Research and development
• Funds for purchase of new farm or farmland

What to do next?

If you are a farm owner looking to obtain a farm grant or a farm loan or perhaps a tax break for your farming business, start with your business plan first.

Ensure your farm business plan is perfect – reach out to the experts at UK Startups for assistance.

Once the plan is done, access the Funding Database available to UK Startups members and start applying to all of the programmes available to your farm business.