£74 Million Investment to Combat Water and Air Pollution from Slurry

The government has announced an additional £74 million in funding to assist farmers in upgrading their slurry infrastructure. This initiative aims to reduce water pollution, enhance air quality, and promote optimal use of organic nutrients (21 November 2023). 

Farmers can now apply for the second round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant, which is part of a broader £200 million investment aimed at combating agricultural pollution linked to slurry during the agricultural transition period. 

The second funding round offers more than double the financial support available in the first round to accommodate rising demand. Following feedback from farmers, enhancements have been made to the program, such as increasing allowable storage for pig farms, providing grants for slurry separators, and allowing retrofitting of covers on existing storage facilities. 

Through the Slurry Infrastructure Grant, farmers can secure grants ranging from £25,000 to £250,000 to replace or expand existing slurry storage, construct new storage facilities, and invest in necessary equipment like separators, reception pits, and agitators.

This grant is an essential element of the government’s Plan for Water, which outlines additional investments, stringent regulations, and stronger enforcement measures aimed at addressing all sources of water pollution. It also fulfills critical commitments from the Environmental Improvement Plan to mitigate air pollution, halt the loss of biodiversity, and aid the recovery of protected environments. 

Farming Minister Mark Spencer commented:

We owe a debt of gratitude to farmers dedicated to providing high-quality British food while conserving and managing our countryside. 

It is imperative that they receive support for the environmental advancements many aim to achieve. Our Slurry Infrastructure Grant facilitates significant investments in infrastructure that can yield substantial benefits for water quality and air purity, in addition to lowering their operational costs.” 

Livestock manure plays a crucial role in enriching soil organic matter, which supports crop growth and boosts productivity while minimizing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. 

However, applying slurry without appropriate crop or soil needs—often due to inadequate storage—can lead to severe pollution in water bodies and loss of a valuable resource, raising expenses for farmers. Open slurry storage and improper spreading techniques also release considerable ammonia, which adversely affects sensitive species and poses risks to human health. 

The grant will empower more farmers to exceed current storage requirements, ensuring better compliance with regulations and more efficient use of organic nutrients. Additionally, the funding targets regions near protected areas experiencing ammonia challenges in nutrient neutrality catchments. This initiative aligns with efforts by Defra and Natural England to assist developers and local planning authorities in mitigating nutrient pollution from wastewater associated with new housing projects, facilitating sustainable development. 

Joe Dewhirst, a beneficiary of the first round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant, shared his experience:

The Slurry Infrastructure Grant is enabling me to replace my outdated earth-banked slurry lagoon with a modern precast circular slurry storage system, significantly improving my slurry management and reducing farm emissions.

This funding opportunity precedes the launch of two additional rounds of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund expected in early 2024 and 2025, which will allocate £21 million for smaller equipment to aid farmers in slurry management, including nutrient testing kits and low-emission spreaders.

The new investment builds on existing efforts by farmers participating in the government’s Countryside Stewardship scheme, which includes initiatives such as segregating dirty water and effluent from rainwater by covering manure stores. Farmers can also access complementary options under the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which supports the creation of Nutrient Management Plans, the establishment of multi-species winter cover, and the installation of buffer strips.