Farmers in 75 priority catchment areas from Northumberland to Cornwall have submitted over 3,000 applications for funding to the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) grants scheme this year.

Natural England, which operates the scheme, announced last week that over 3,000 applications for CSF Capital Grants had been made in the past year. The grant offers up to 50 per cent funding for farm improvement works that will help producers to take practical action to reduce diffuse water pollution. 

Natural England said the 3,000 applications for project funding that have been received by the grants scheme this year add up to a combined total of around £25 million. However, despite increases in funding this year and more money promised for next year’s scheme, with a current budget of £21.5 million for 2012, the CSF’s annual budget has been over-subscribed, meaning grants will be allocated on a competitive basis. 

The funding will be allocated to the applications that best meet the scheme’s priorities and that provide the greatest environmental benefits within target areas, a spokesperson said. The spokesperson said all applicants will know by the end of August whether or not their applications have been successful.

Geoff Sansome, Director of Land Management (South) for Natural England commented on the scheme’s progress in 2012,  “Work funded by this scheme over recent years is already providing savings for thousands of farmers and enhancing local environments throughout England by improving water quality.  The Catchment Sensitive Farming Project is an excellent example of what can be achieved through partnership working.  I am delighted that further work will be carried out on hundreds of farms as a result of the funding made available this year.

Work undertaken

Practical works carried out under the auspices of the CSF initiative include moves to boost the health of England’s precious streams, rivers, meres and mosses, improving water quality and reducing pollution from agricultural activity. Earlier this year, in an effort to appease protesting dairy farmers, agriculture minister Jim Paice announced that Defra had abandoned plans to designate the entire UK as Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, a move which would have introduced stricter environmental measures to prevent diffuse pollution and which has since been implemented in Denmark.  

Projects which have been undertaken as part of the CSF scheme include installing water troughs, managing pesticides to reduce groundwater impacts, roofing manure & silage stores and works to keep livestock away from streams.

This year, the Government announced an extension to the CSF Capital Grant Scheme and made an additional £14 million available in 2012/13, bringing the total annual budget to over £21m.  An extra £8 million will be made available in 2013/14.  The 2012/13 application window has now closed, but next year’s application window will be open between 1st March and 30th of April 2013.

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