Farming Minister George Eustice, when visiting the Royal Cornwall Show announced that more than 3,500 grants, worth £23.5 million, have been allocated to farmers from the Countryside Productivity Small Grants scheme.

The scheme will help farmers purchase the equipment they need to make their businesses more productive – for example, improving the electronic identification of livestock or introducing guidance systems to aid precision farming.

While at the show, Minister Eustice attended the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) breakfast where he met with members and took part in a Q&A session with South West Regional Director John Mortimer. He is also touring the stands and meeting local businesses, including Rodda’s Cornish Cream and local fruit and vegetable growers.

Commenting on the Countryside Productivity Small Grants scheme, Farming Minister George Eustice said:

"It is fantastic to see this scheme has proven so popular, with a collective number of grants now worth £23.5 million, and nearly a third of this funding going towards farms and businesses across the South West.

The equipment on the market today can revolutionise farms, saving time and increasing yields. This funding will enable farmers, regardless of the size of their business, to access some of the best kit available".

The Small Grants scheme is one element within the £200 million package of RDPE funding announced last Summer. Further guidance on applying for programmes under the RDPE can be found here.