The Farming Investment Fund opened for applications on the 16th of November 2021.
The Farming Investment Fund is open for application to farmers, growers and foresters (including related contractors) grants are available to improve productivity and for the enhancement of the natural environment.
There is 27 million available in the Fund to go towards equipment, infrastructure and technology.
There are 2 parts to the Farming Investment Fund:
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
The Farming Transformation Fund
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund is based on the previously available small productivity grants scheme but has been improved and adapted in line with feedback from farmers.
There are now more items available within the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund than the preceding small productivity grant scheme, the items included in the grant funding have increased from 85 to 120.
The increased item availability was developed to better support the needs of all agricultural sectors including forestry and horticulture. The items included on the list will be regularly reviewed and updated to suit industry requirements.
The minimum grant availability has been reduced from £3,000 to £2,000 from the previous Countryside Productivity Small Grant (CPSG) to open it up to more farmers, foresters and horticulturists.
The maximum Farming Equipment and Technology Fund has increased to £25,000 to allow for higher value items as well as more variations of existing items.
Animal Health and Welfare
A new expanded grant offer will be opening late next year to co-fund investments made in technology, equipment and infrastructure to improve animal health and welfare.
The Farming Transformation Fund
The Water Management Theme opened for applications on the 16th of September 2021. The Water Management Theme is available for application to horticultural and arable businesses that grow, or intend to grow, irrigated food crops, ornamentals or forestry nurseries.
The Water Management Theme of the Farming Transformation Fund provides grants for capital items that support the improvement of farm productivity, through improving efficiencies of water irrigation.
Secure sustainable water supplies for crop irrigation by the construction of on-farm reservoirs and irrigation application equipment.
The Farming Investment Fund – Solar Water System
Agrismart’s solar water system includes one of our range of solar powered water pumps and pipes so you can distribute the water to exactly where you require it on the farm.
Pumps and pipes can be sized accordingly to provide more pressure and flow rate than mains water supply, and our pressure control system can be incorporated, enabling crop sprayers to fill much faster.
Water Management Solar Pumps
Agrismart’s Solar Powered Pumps use the best quality solar panels to ensure maximum usage throughout the year, even on cloudy days with less sun. Our quick-release battery housing allows easy fast charging in the winter months when necessary.
Solar Pump – Mini
Using a submersible pump unit the Mini water system can pump water 60m from the watercourse to a water tank or multiple troughs:
Distance capability of 1000m
Head of 50m
Suction from water course no more than 8m
Flow rate 4,800 litres per hour
Solar Water Pump – Maxi
Using a high-powered submersible steel pump the Maxi water system can pump water 60m from the watercourse to a water tank or multiple troughs:
Distance capability of 1500m
Head of 65m
Suction from watercourse no more than 8m
A flow rate of 120 litres a minute
Solar Powered Pump – Major
Using a high-powered submersible steel pump the Maxi water system can pump water 160m from the watercourse to a water tank or multiple troughs:
Distance capability of 2000m
Head of 100m
Suction from watercourse no more than 4m
A flow rate of 17,500 per hour
Submersible Pump – Solar
Using the plug-and-play unit the solar water system can pump water up to 1000mm from the watercourse to a water tank by timer function or pressure shut off if a pressurised water network is required.
Distance capability of 1000m
Head of 55m
Maximum immersion depth: 12 m standard version
Minimum suction depth: 110 mm
Minimum level of water: 35 mm
The Farming Investment Fund – Solar Water System in a secure box
All of our range of 3 Solar Water Pumps are contained in their own secure boxes complete with automated water treatment, electric fence connection points and additional charge capacity.
All of our range of water pumps are ideal for rainwater harvesting!
The Farming Investment Fund – Solar Water Pumps, Water Tanks and Troughs
The Agrismart solar pumps are a complete water system in a box and are perfect for pumping water to water tanks either a vertical water tank, pillow tank or water troughs using solar power.
Benefiting from using renewable energy and eliminating ongoing costs, like costly electric pumps.
The solar powered water pump has a battery backup ensuring a reliable and consistent water supply.
The Farming Investment Fund
Additional Features for Solar Water System Automation
Pressure Control System
Agrismart has developed a pressure control system designed to work with our renewable energy pumps, ensuring constant water pressure across all water outlets on the farm or buildings.
Tank Low Level Alarm
The Agrismart Tank Low Level Alarm is designed to send a text alert when there is a problem with the water level in your tank. It works in conjunction with our auto pump controller which tells the pump to stop when the tank is full.
Auto Pump Controller
Our Auto Pump Controller makes our renewable energy pump a completely automated water pumping system. Using the water pipe allows us to automatically stop and start a water pump with ease over a large distance.