Funding Hasn't Disappeared - But farmers need new strategies to secure it
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According to SRH Agribusiness director Simon Haley, the days of applying for grants simply because they are available are coming to an end.
"The overall message is that funding has not disappeared, but the landscape has definitely changed," he says. "There is less room for speculative applications and much more need for a proper funding strategy."
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) remains an important option for many businesses, but Mr Haley warns that it should not be viewed as guaranteed income. With the confirmed SFI26 budget now operating within a finite allocation, farmers need to ensure any actions they choose genuinely support their farming system and long-term objectives.
"A good SFI agreement should strengthen the business," he explains. "A poor one can create obligations, cashflow expectations and compliance risk."
Looking beyond SFI
One of the biggest mistakes farmers can make is focusing solely on one funding stream. As diversification becomes increasingly important to farm resilience, a growing number of grants and support programmes are emerging to support innovation, productivity and business development.
Capital Grants, the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, local authority funding and Growth Hub programmes continue to support investment in areas such as agritourism, rural enterprise, technology and productivity improvements.
Meanwhile, local authority and Growth Hub funding programmes are creating opportunities for businesses looking to invest in diversification projects. Schemes such as the Cumbria Rural Enterprise Grant, which offers grants of up to £49,999 covering 80% of project costs, demonstrate the potential support available for agritourism ventures, visitor attractions, rural enterprises, equipment purchases and productivity improvements.
While these programmes may not always receive national attention, they can often provide significant opportunities for ambitious rural businesses.
Innovation, collaboration and next generation funding
Innovation funding is also playing an increasingly important role. The ADOPT scheme, for example, supports farmer-led trials and demonstration projects focused on productivity, sustainability, animal health and resilience, helping businesses test new ideas and tackle practical challenges.
For younger farmers and new entrants, grants from organisations such as the Henry Plumb Foundation and the Addington Fund can help kickstart new ventures, while agricultural charities and rural organisations continue to provide valuable training, mentoring and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
Looking ahead, collaboration is expected to become increasingly important. The upcoming Farmer Collaboration Fund will support groups and networks working together to share expertise, test ideas and improve resilience across the sector.
The key message is clear: successful businesses are no longer chasing funding first and looking for a project second. Instead, they are identifying their goals, building a strategy and then finding the funding that aligns with their ambitions.
These are exactly the conversations taking place at Farm Business Innovation, where farmers and landowners can connect with funding specialists, diversification experts and rural business advisers to explore new opportunities and build more resilient businesses.
Farm Business Innovation returns to the NEC Birmingham on 4-5 November 2026, helping farmers discover practical solutions, assess opportunities and turn ideas into sustainable new income streams.