A DORSET MP is urging farmers to utilise the upcoming fund worth £45million in competitions and grants. 

Steve Barclay, Environment Secretary, announced that £45million in competitions and grants are set to open in the coming weeks at the 2023 CLA rural business conference. 

The environment secretary said: "My pledge to you is that this government will always back British farmers who produce some of the highest quality food in the world, contribute billions to our economy, and to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude for taking care of our countryside."

Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, is reminding farmers that several schemes are set to open as part of the Government's pledge to champion British agriculture. 

Mr Loder is from a farming family and knows the importance of these competitions and grants. 

“I urge farmers in West Dorset to make the most of the funding available to help boost innovation and agriculture in our area," he said.

"Schemes include New Green Finance Funding, which offers farmers grants of up to £100,000 to help projects associated with carbon capture and flood management. From today (December 18), our local farmers can also apply for a share of £850,000 for innovative projects to help the agricultural sector move to net zero. 

“From January next year, farmers can apply for a share of an initial £30 million for robotics and roof-top solar equipment as part of the Improving Farming Productivity grant. Under the scheme, the government will make a 40% contribution to innovative technologies that can help farmers invest in robotics and automation to make processes like harvesting and milking more efficient, alongside the latest health checks for livestock and storage to help keep slurry out of our water courses and bring down emissions.

“Taken together, these schemes demonstrate our commitment to British agriculture and will help to boost farming productivity, reduce waste, and cut input costs for those farmers who take advantage of the schemes in West Dorset.”