Farmer Grants Poll LOCUS Poll Question April 2024
We polled 1361 farms across the UK
We asked you
- Which agricultural grants have you applied for in the last 3 years?
- Please give up to three grants of the highest value for your farm enterprise.
- For each grant, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is very difficult and 5 is very easy) please rate each grant for its ease of application.
The results proved particularly fascinating…
Grants can be a tricky subject in Agriculture, some feel they are a necessary part of good business, others would rather they weren’t needed at all. Some farmers are reluctant to increase their already large administrative burden. However, Grants are an important mechanism for Government or stakeholders to promote practices on farm.
The Sustainable Farm Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) were the most mentioned in the poll. As DEFRA’s flagship support schemes, this is would be as expected. With the CS being launched back in 2015, the SFI rolled out much more recently in 2022/23.
The poll found there is a large number of farmers not applying for grants.
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) showed high awareness with all enterprise groups, but was a key scheme (alongside Slurry Infrastructure Grant) with the Dairy sector, which was noticeably less likely to apply for the SFI grant.
Here’s what UK farmers said…
48% of Farms polled have not applied for a grant in the last 3 yrs.
53% of Dairy Farms have applied for a grant in the last 3 years
| Farm Type | Sample Size | Positive Response | No Grants or Don't Know |
| All Sample | 1,361 | 52% | 48% |
| Dairy Only | 137 | 53% | 47% |
| Arable Only | 253 | 49% | 51% |
| Mixed | 486 | 62% | 38% |
| Beef or Sheep Only | 548 | 37% | 63% |
Base: All = 1361 - Which agricultural grants have you applied for in the last 3 years? Please give up to three grants of the highest value for your farm enterprise
Where Advisors are involved
Farms with Advisors are more likely to apply for Grants
| Advisor Status | Sample Size | Positive Response | No Grants or Don't Know |
| Has Advisor | 353 | 57% | 43% |
| No Advisor | 795 | 37% | 63% |
| Advisor in the past | 82 | 39% | 61% |
Base: All = 1361 - Which agricultural grants have you applied for in the last 3 years? Please give up to three grants of the highest value for your farm enterprise
Top 4 Grants – All Enterprises
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) scored the highest for ease of application
| Grant Type | Percentage of Positive | Relative ease of application (1=low, 5=high) |
| Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) | 27% | 3.21 |
| Countryside Stewardship (CS) | 21% | 3.07 |
| Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) | 13% | 3.22 |
| Improving Farm Productivity Grant (round 2) | 6% | 3.21 |
Base: All = 1361 - Which agricultural grants have you applied for in the last 3 years?
Please give up to three grants of the highest value for your farm enterprise.
For each grant, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is very difficult and 5 is very easy) please rate each grant for its ease of application.
Top 4 Grants – Arable Only
SFI is the most known in this sector
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) was the most commonly applied for in the arable sector
| Grant Type | Percentage of Positive | Relative ease of application (1=low, 5=high) |
| Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) | 41% | 3.31 |
| Countryside Stewardship (CS) | 28% | 2.91 |
| Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) | 7% | 3.11 |
| Could not recall grant name (Upkeep) | 3% | 3.50 |
Base: All = 1361 - Which agricultural grants have you applied for in the last 3 years?
Please give up to three grants of the highest value for your farm enterprise.
For each grant, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is very difficult and 5 is very easy) please rate each grant for its ease of application.
Top 4 Grants – Dairy Only
FETF and Slurry Infrastructure grants most mentioned here
Dairy Farmers were most likely to apply for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF)
| Grant Type | Percentage of Positive | Relative ease of application (1=low, 5=high) |
| Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) | 18% | 3.00 |
| Slurry Infrastructure Grant (round 2) | 15% | 2.91 |
| Improving Farm Productivity Grant (round 2) | 11% | 4.13 |
| Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) | 11% | 2.38 |
Base: =All = 1361 - Which agricultural grants have you applied for in the last 3 years?
Please give up to three grants of the highest value for your farm enterprise.
For each grant, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is very difficult and 5 is very easy) please rate each grant for its ease of application.
Top 4 Grants – Beef/Sheep Only
SFI and CS most known, but FETF and Farm Productivity feature.
For the beef and sheep sector the Sustainable Farming Incentive was the most applied for
| Grant Type | Percentage of Positive | Relative ease of application (1=low, 5=high) |
| Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) | 23% | 3.15 |
| Countryside Stewardship (CS) | 18% | 3.36 |
| Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) | 10% | 3.00 |
| Improving Farm Productivity Grant (round 2) | 9% | 3.61 |
Base: All = 1361 - Which agricultural grants have you applied for in the last 3 years?
Please give up to three grants of the highest value for your farm enterprise.
For each grant, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is very difficult and 5 is very easy) please rate each grant for its ease of application.
Top 4 Grants – Mixed Farms
SFI and CS most known, but FETF and Slurry Infrastructure feature.
31% of mixed farms applied for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), making it the most popular grant in this sector
| Grant Type | Percentage of Positive | Relative ease of application (1=low, 5=high) |
| Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) | 31% | 3.32 |
| Countryside Stewardship (CS) | 22% | 2.97 |
| Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) | 12% | 3.31 |
| Slurry Infrastructure Grant (round 2) | 8% | 3.24 |
Base: All = 1361 - Which agricultural grants have you applied for in the last 3 years?
Please give up to three grants of the highest value for your farm enterprise.
For each grant, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is very difficult and 5 is very easy) please rate each grant for its ease of application.
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