LANTRA Health Planning

The West Midlands Farm Health Planning Initiative provides funding for:

§ The preparation of a Farm Health Plan which is delivered through the RDPEs LandSkills West Midlands programme and Capital grants through the RDPE’s Farm Health Capital Grant managed by Herefordshire Council in partnership with Lantra towards equipment and facilities to produce high health and welfare improvements.

§ The Farm Health Capital Grant (FHCG) is a small capital grants programme, (for grants £62,500 and below) funded under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is available to commercial dairy, beef, sheep, pig, goat and poultry producers whose livestock enterprises provide a minimum of 900 hours of work per year. Applications for capital grants must be supported by a Farm Health Plan produced during a health planning programme in conjunction with your veterinary surgeon.

Applications for Farm Health Capital Grants are currently being invited to support investments in the following areas:

§ Livestock Handling

§ Equipment

§ Improvements to buildings

§ Specialised computer hardware and software

Rural Development Programme for England Business Support is part of Solutions for Business, the Government's package of publicity funded business support delivered to help companies start and grow. More information on Solutions for Business is available here.

How do I apply for a Farm Health Capital Grant?

The Farm Health Grant will be run in partnership with the West Midlands LandSkills project which is managed by Lantra. A condition of grant is that you have received skills and advice under this project resulting in a Farm Health Plan which will form part of the appraisal process for funding.

If you think you are eligible:

1. After discussion with your veterinary surgeon, obtain the Stage One application form from them. Your veterinary surgeon must be listed on the Lantra Vet’s Panel. The list will be shortly available from the Rural Hubs or on the Lantra website;

2. Complete Stage One – Section 1 application form in 2 copies. It will establish eligibility and allow the farm health plan to proceed;

3. Return 2 copies of the form to your vet who will agree your Farm Health Planning programme with you. You then work with your vet to develop the Farm Health Plan;

4. On completing Stage One you will receive one copy of the Stage One application form, your Farm Health Plan and 2 copies of an Audit Return Certificate signed by your veterinary surgeon. The recommendations contained in a Farm Health Plan will be an essential requirement in justifying the need for a Farm Health Capital Grant;

5. Complete Stage One – Section Two application form to register interest in the Farm Health Capital Grant;

6. Submit Stage One form – Sections One and Two plus a copy of your Farm Health Plan Audit Return Certificate to the Farm Health Grant Manager (FHG) at Herefordshire Council;

7. If eligibility is agreed by Herefordshire Council complete Stage Two application form. A Farm Health Capital Grant Project Officer will also make contact with you to arrange a visit to discuss your proposal and explain how to complete the application form before its submission;

8. If relevant you will be put in touch with Business Link West Midlands who will help you assess any general need for training or business advice;

9. If planning permission is needed you will also need to secure this and/or listed building and other relevant consents (where this is a legal requirement) before submitting your full application;

10. Your application will be considered by an approval panel, which normally meets monthly. Most applications will be considered within 6 weeks of submission;

11. On receipt of approval, a contract will be issued by Herefordshire Council and you can commence work;

12. When the work has been completed and paid for, you can complete and submit a grant claim form. The FHG Manager will provide the relevant form and guidance on request. Individual claims must cover at least £2,500 of grant and be based on the net costs of the work. Claims can relate to more than one item.