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Guy Coggrave

Reaction to the Prime Minister’s announcement of additional SFI and drought funding

Guy Coggrave, CEO of GSC Grays said:

“With farmers facing the combined pressures of drought, high input costs, difficult grain prices and uncertainty around future support, the additional funding is welcome. However, while £50 million sounds like a significant amount, it has to support a large number of farming businesses and will be absorbed very quickly.

“The additional £50 million takes the SFI26 budget to £290 million, but with the next application window due to open shortly, the question is how far that budget will stretch? From the SFI26 applications we are currently preparing, it is clear that demand is likely to be significant.

“There is also a question about where the additional funding is coming from within Defra’s budget. Farmers will welcome more support, but they also need confidence that providing additional funding now will not mean money being taken away from other areas that could affect their businesses in the future. The current priority is to ensure the funding is sufficient, accessible and forms part of a longer term approach that gives farming businesses the confidence to plan ahead.

“The support for on-farm reservoirs is also a positive step. Better water storage will be increasingly important; however, funding alone will not be enough. Planning authorities and regulators need to work constructively with farmers to ensure realistic projects can be delivered on time.”

Article by

Guy Coggrave
MRICS FAAV
Chief Executive Officer

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