This week, Defra lifted the maximum limit applying to capital grants - there used to be a maximum of £20,000 per theme in the stand-alone Capital grant scheme.  This is a very significant change and follows an increase in payments on average of 48% for new agreements from 1st January 2023.

Previously, this £20,000 limit on the stand-alone capital grant scheme would have encouraged some farmers to apply for a full Mid-Tier Stewardship agreement which had a higher maximum grant.  This is no longer the case and farmers will now need to decide whether they are better off applying for the new Sustainable Farming Incentive standards alongside a separate capital grant scheme application, or whether Mid-Tier Stewardship is the better option for their business.