Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, is encouraging eligible farmers in Milton Keynes to take advantage of the £30 million Farming Investment Fund to help boost businesses and add extra value to produce.
Funding grants of up to £300,000 will be made available to farmers to purchase equipment to process, diversify and add value to their products after they have been harvested or reared. This could include premises and equipment for the preparation or processing of agricultural produce, for example turning milk into cheese or yoghurt, processing meat into sausages, and potatoes into crisps or chips; or equipment such as vending machines and display facilities for selling food direct to customers.
The funding will be offered in sums between £25,000 and £300,000.
Ben Everitt MP commented: "I'm a big fan of our farmers and our rural communities, it's our farmers that make Britain feel like Britain. This fund is absolutely vital allowing farmers to invest in making more value out of the stuff that we produce locally here in Britain.
"Farmers can use it, for example, to invest in equipment to turn milk into cheese or yoghurt, or even processed meat into sausages- or even vending machines for farm shops for locally produced produce so farmers please do check if you're eligible!"
George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, said: "We want to support the choices that farmers make for their businesses. We are spending around £600 million on farm-based innovation over the next three years, and the money announced today will support farmers across England with their investment plans, to improve their profitability and productivity."
It has also been announced that the first round of new Slurry Infrastructure grants, worth £13 million, will open later this autumn. These new grants will help livestock farmers in England to upgrade their slurry storage and nutrient management systems and, in so doing, help reducing water and air pollution from slurry. Guidance for applicants is now available on GOV.UK.
