ARCHIVE: Catchment Sensitive Farming Capital Grants Scheme 2011-12 and 2012-13

CSF Capital Grant Schemes have been offered since 2007, to support land managers in priority catchments in England by providing grant aid towards the improvement or installation of facilities that would benefit water quality by reducing diffuse pollution from agriculture.

The 2011-12 and 2012-13 Schemes will use the same Farmer’s Manual for both years. This will be similar to the 2009-10 scheme in the items supported.  Scheme administration will be handled by Natural England, funding will continue to be drawn from Defra’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Inspections will be carried out on our behalf by the Rural Payment Agency. The Capital Grants Scheme will be available in 2011/12 in the existing 50 priority catchments and targeted more specifically at holdings within target areas of these catchments.

It is expected that the funding mechanism will allow a minimum of £7.5 million in Capital Grants to be awarded per year.

What is the case for government action

The Scheme aims to help farmers and land managers within priority catchments to tackle diffuse water pollution from agriculture.

The Scheme is part of the Catchment Sensitive Farming programme which provides advice to farmers to help them implement changes in farming that reduce the risk of water pollution, and reduce the risk of regulation being applied to farming to achieve required water quality standards.

Latest news

The scheme will be open for applications from 1 March 2011 to 30 April 2011.

Key facts and figures

The single biggest threat of diffuse water pollution is from agriculture. This is unsurprising, as agriculture covers 70 per cent of the land area of England and sources of diffuse pollution, including nutrients from fertilisers and manure, are essential parts of farming. Increases in nutrient levels can result in toxic algal blooms, resulting in adverse impacts on the food chain which supports fish, animals and birds.

Farming is not the sole cause of diffuse water pollution, but it does contribute approximately 60 per cent of nitrates, 25 per cent of phosphorus and 70 per cent of sediments entering our waters, amongst other pollutants.

Key publications and documents

Papers for previous Schemes.

The Scheme operates according to the attached Funding Priority Statements

More information and application packs can be requested from:

The Catchment Sensitive Farming Team
Government Offices
Block 7, Chalfont Drive
Nottingham
NG8 3SN
Tel: 0300 060 1111

Page last modified: 28 February 2011
Page published 29 March 2007