DAERA announce launch of second Tranche of Tier 1 of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme-Capital

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has announced the launch of the second Tranche of Tier 1 of its Farm Business Improvement Scheme – Capital (FBIS-C). Further information will be available online from 12 December 2017. This is to give interested farmers and growers time to prepare in advance of the Scheme opening for applications on 4 January 2018. Tier 1 will close for applications at 4 pm on 2 February 2018.

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Tier 1 of FBIS-C is designed to support smaller scale investments that will improve the sustainability of farm businesses. It will support the purchase of equipment and machinery, costing from £5,000 to £30,000, from a list of eligible items. 

All applicants must have a Category 1 Farm Business ID, and must complete a ‘Making It Safer’ risk assessment as part of their application. Applicants must provide an up to date Indication of Support Letter (bank letter), Applicants should contact their bank or lending institution to make arrangements for the provision of this bank letter, which must be dated on or after 11 December 2017.

DAERA encourages farmers to use the period between the launch and the Scheme opening to assess the sustainability of their farm business and, where necessary, take advice from suppliers on the affordability of equipment and machinery from the new List of Eligible Items provided for this Tranche. The Tier 1 List of Eligible Items has been extended to include items that will have environmental, animal and plant health, health and safety, and resource efficiency benefits for farm businesses.

Applicants are reminded that total grant under Tier 1 of FBIS-C cannot exceed £12,000, over both Tranches. Applicants, who were successful under the first Tranche of Tier 1, should contact Countryside Services Limited if unsure of the amount of grant they were awarded under Tranche 1. Countryside Services Limited will run information events across Northern Ireland in the New Year.

Guidance on the Tier 1 application process, List of Eligible Items, Indication of Support Letter (bank letter), ‘Making it Safer’ Risk Assessment, Explanatory Booklet, FAQs and how to apply can be found from 12 December on the DAERA website or the Countryside Services Limited website Grant support under this Tranche will be subject to budget availability.

Notes to editors: 

1. It is envisaged that the second Tranche of Tier 1 of FBIS-Capital will have a budget of £7.5million, subject to budget availability in 2018-19.

2. Eligible applications will be ranked according to the Scheme selection criteria and the available funding awarded to the highest scoring applications. As with Tranche 1, eligible applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria: 

• FBIS-C theme band;
• Value for Money;
• Online submission;
• Age of applicant; and
• Educational Attainment.

3. To be eligible for extra points, the applicant must be a named member of the farm business and be 40 years of age or younger on 3 January 2018. (This is the last working day before the application opening date, similar to the approach for Tranche 1).

4. DAERA would encourage farmers to use the preparation period between the launch and the opening of Tier 1 to: 

• Assess the need of the farm business in terms of sustainability and new equipment;
• Contact their lending institution or bank to make arrangements for the provision of a new Indication of Support Letter (bank letter);
• Complete a new online farm ‘Making it Safer’ Risk Assessment on or after 1 December 2017;
• Contact DAERA if you wish to add new members to an existing DAERA Farm Business ID or establish a new one;
• Contact suppliers to assess the affordability of items of interest to them.

5. Under the first Tranche of Tier 1, almost 1,200 farmers have received grant aid amounting to almost £5.5 million to date, with totals claims worth nearly £7.2million. This represents an investment in the rural economy in the region of £18million. The second Tranche of Tier 1 will build on the success of the first.

6. A second Tranche of Tier 2 of FBIS-Capital is also planned, but it is not possible at this stage to be specific about the timing. Decisions on this will be subject to a review of the lessons learned from the first Tranche and funding availability. 

7. FBIS-C Tier 1 is delivered by Countryside Services Limited on behalf of DAERA.

8. Further information on the FBIS-Capital Scheme is available on the DAERA website. 

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10. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

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