Picture: New free range houses in Wales could attract grant aid
Farmers in Wales are in line to receive tens of thousands of pounds to expand or set up free range units. The cash, on offer from the Welsh Assembly, represents the first public money to go into the free range sector which has always emphasized its independence from government funding. There are also fears that it could help fuel another bout of over-production in the industry.
The grant money is available under a programme called Farming Direct which aims to help the Welsh family farms survive and develop. Producers are offered free advice and guidance as well as Farm Enterprise Grants to help with diversification projects, like moving into free range.
So far just over £50,000 has been awarded to two farmers who are developing free range operations involving a total spend of £111,500. More are already in the pipeline. A total of 22 poultry enterprises—involving a total spend of £1.7 million—have been approved. Between them these projects are attracting almost £750,000 grant.
Assembly spokesman Tim Cosgrove told the Ranger: “Farming Connect is a packet of measures to assist farmers. To qualify they must put in at least 500 hours per annum on their farms and they must have a holding number. The idea is to help them diversify from mainstream activities like sheep and cattle. A free range producer who has no other enterprises would not qualify for expansion. But a farmer who has, say, sheep and free range would qualify to expand the free range.
“The Welsh Assembly is offering more help to family farms than any other UK country. This is because we have taken a policy decision that family farms are a part of our heritage and should be encouraged. Different decisions have been made in England where as I understand it there is much more emphasis on market forces.”
The standard rate of grant for each scheme is 35% but Young Farmers can get up to 45%. Farms which are eligible for a Farm Improvement Grant as well as the enterprise money can receive a total of £75,000.
The money seems certain to fuel cross-border resentment when a farmer in England may have to pay £20 a bird to set up a new unit while a neighbour in Wales, perhaps just a mile away, is effectively paying just £13 or even less.
One producer who is in line to receive a grant said: “The process is very long-winded and bureaucratic and may take as long as six months from beginning to end. But anyone who intended to expand a free range unit or set up a new one and is eligible would be foolish not to take advantage.
“But there are already rumours that some English companies are encouraging farmers just across the border to get into free range at what is effectively a cut rate. And there must be concerns that the grant system will fuel over production at a time when many organic producers may be switching back to free range because of the introduction of new standards.”
