Introduction to the Scheme
The Capital Scheme has two separate tiers – Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Tier 1 includes on-farm investment projects from £5,000 to a maximum of £30,000 project costs, and is aimed primarily at encouraging farmers to invest in equipment and machinery that will improve the sustainability of their businesses (i.e. environmental performance, health and safety, animal health and welfare).
The grant rate of funding for both tiers in the Scheme is 40% of eligible costs.
Tier 1
Please note that Tranche 3 of Tier 1 closed for applications on 4 December 2020.
The objective of Tier 1 is to improve the sustainability of farms in Northern Ireland. It will provide support for farmers and growers to invest in equipment and machinery that will help realise improvements in efficiency, environmental practice, animal health and welfare, and health and safety, associated with modern farming practices.
Tier 1 is for projects costing from £5,000 - £30,000 (eligible costs) and is primarily aimed at the purchase of off the shelf equipment and machinery.
Tier 2
The Farm Business Improvement Scheme (FBIS-C) Tier 2 Tranche 2 opened on 10 January 2022 and will close at 4pm on 20 May 2022 (extended deadline). Please note that only those who completed the Expression of Interest form will be permitted to submit a Full Application.
Further guidance is available Here.
The focus of Tier 2 is on larger-scale investment to encourage a step change in the agriculture and horticulture sectors, and to drive transformational investment in future proofed, fit-for-purpose, modern infrastructure and equipment, guided by a robust business planning process within assisted farms.
Tier 2 is for projects costing from £30,000 - unlimited (within the overall maximum grant limit of £250,000 available under the NI Rural Development Programme 2014-20) and is primarily for construction projects and the purchase of higher value equipment linked to the needs in the farmer’s business plan.
Anyone interested in applying to FBIS-Capital Tier 2 tranche 2 MUST have completed the Expression of Interest in order to be eligible to subsequently make a full application.
Contact
If you have a query or wish to contact us about the Farm Business Improvement Scheme – Capital Scheme, please follow the instructions at the link below:
FBIS Capital Scheme - contact details