Announcements from Defra for our sector

The Government have announced several new policies and opportunities which they hope will help farmers and growers improve profitability and help sustainability of businesses. These include:

• Extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years giving farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses. Annual quota reviews will ensure they strike the right balance – supporting farms while gradually reducing visa numbers as alternative solutions are developed.

• A £110 million investment in innovation, equipment, technology including: 

·         The launch of one round of the Farming Equipment and Technology (FETF) Fund in the spring, providing grants of between £1,000 and £25,000. 

·         New Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) grants worth more than £42.5 million, including competitions focussed on unlocking the benefits of precision breeding and supporting the Net Zero transition. 

·         New ADOPT fund, providing £20 million of additional funding for farmer-led trials that bridge the gap between new technologies and their real-world application, with the hope of giving farmers the confidence that investments in tech will deliver the returns they need. 

• Capital Grants scheme will re-open in the summer, after a pause in November 2024. All applications submitted before the pause will now be processed.  

These announcements were made, among others, at the 2025 NFU Conference. If you would like to read the full speech made Environment Secretary Steve Reed, please visit gov.uk.