NI farmers are being reminded that the deadline for the Farm Business Improvement Scheme (FBIS) is 4pm on Friday 10 March.
Prospective applicants are being urged to ensure that they have met all the requirements for the Tier 2 application process.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the focus of Tier 2 is on large-scale investment to encourage a step change in agriculture and drive transformational investment.
It is mainly for construction and projects costing over £30,000, with 40% grant funding available up to a maximum grant of £250,000.
Applicants must include, or upload if submitting online, all the additional supporting information and permissions required for Tier 2.
Applicants to Tier 2 will be required to submit a separate robust, viable and sustainable business plan as part of their application, which shows that they have carefully planned their investment and what difference the proposed project will make in transforming their farm into a more sustainable, efficient and safer business, DAERA said.
Vast majority from poultry sector
Tier 2 opened on 19 December 2016 and was due to close on 24 February 2017.
However, DAERA extended the deadline until 10 March due to the time and commitment involved in completing the application.
The majority of applications to Tier 2 are set to be from the poultry sector and, in particular, the free-range egg sector.
There is said to have been a small number of applications for funding from dairy farmers, with a similar number from pig producers and a handful of applications from the beef and sheep sector.
There was a last-minute surge in applications for Tier 1, which closed in December. The scheme was significantly oversubscribed, with over 3,500 applications received.
Read more
Full coverage: Farm Business Investment Scheme
NI farmers are being reminded that the deadline for the Farm Business Improvement Scheme (FBIS) is 4pm on Friday 10 March.
Prospective applicants are being urged to ensure that they have met all the requirements for the Tier 2 application process.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the focus of Tier 2 is on large-scale investment to encourage a step change in agriculture and drive transformational investment.
It is mainly for construction and projects costing over £30,000, with 40% grant funding available up to a maximum grant of £250,000.
Applicants must include, or upload if submitting online, all the additional supporting information and permissions required for Tier 2.
Applicants to Tier 2 will be required to submit a separate robust, viable and sustainable business plan as part of their application, which shows that they have carefully planned their investment and what difference the proposed project will make in transforming their farm into a more sustainable, efficient and safer business, DAERA said.
Vast majority from poultry sector
Tier 2 opened on 19 December 2016 and was due to close on 24 February 2017.
However, DAERA extended the deadline until 10 March due to the time and commitment involved in completing the application.
The majority of applications to Tier 2 are set to be from the poultry sector and, in particular, the free-range egg sector.
There is said to have been a small number of applications for funding from dairy farmers, with a similar number from pig producers and a handful of applications from the beef and sheep sector.
There was a last-minute surge in applications for Tier 1, which closed in December. The scheme was significantly oversubscribed, with over 3,500 applications received.
Read more
Full coverage: Farm Business Investment Scheme
SHARING OPTIONS