There will be more funding opportunities to come for pig farmers, the NPA stressed, after Defra’s major announcement on its new environmental schemes delivered little of obvious benefit for the sector.
Defra Secretary Therese Coffey announced last week that six new standards will be added to the Sustainable Farming Incentive this year,
They cover hedgerows, grassland, arable and horticultural land, pest management and nutrient management, building on the three introduced in 2022 to improve soil health and moorlands. However, while many pig units are part of wider farming enterprises, there appears to be very little in the options that pig producers could utilise, although Defra is expected to publish further detail of how the scheme will work.
Ms Coffey said these incentives will make food production more resilient and efficient over the longer term while contributing towards the UK’s environmental goals.
NPA view
NPA chief policy adviser Rebecca Veale said the lack of pig options under the new environmental scheme was not surprising, given the focus so far on this aspect of support.
She stressed, however, that funding options would increasingly be available to pig farmers under the Pig Health and Welfare Pathway and two grant schemes.
The second round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (for smaller grants) is expected to launch in early 2023, with an expanded offer on slurry, productivity and animal health and welfare.
Under the Farming Transformation Fund (larger grants), options for water management are expected to be launched in early 2023.
“We hope both schemes will be helpful for pig producers,” Ms Veale said.