Under a new initiative grants of 40% of costs up to a maximum £25,000 contribution are available to farmers, foresters and horticulturists in respect of the following initiatives:

• Nutrient Management: Improvements in use of farm manures and slurries so as to improve soil quality and reduce reliance on artificial fertiliser.
  Eligible items include slurry injectors, mechanical slurry separation systems and Global Positioning Systems.
• Energy Efficiency: Projects to reduce or recover energy use on farm resulting in a reduction of farm energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions.
  Eligible items include heat exchangers, gel coolers and ice builders.
• Water Resource Management: Rainwater harvesting, recycling and reuse systems to reduce reliance on mains water.
  Eligible items include pipework specifically to intercept and divert roof water to a storage facility, rainwater harvesting equipment.
• Animal Health and Welfare: Projects which bring about significant improvements in farm animal health and welfare.
• Forestry: Projects which improve the economic value of forests through the efficiencies of improved processing and adding value.
  Eligible items include timber processors, forwarders, forestry trailers, tractors mounted forestry grabs.

Full particulars may be obtained from:  http://rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk/funding-sources/farm-and-forestry-improvement-scheme ^[1] or by telephoning   0300 602526.