Time to get CSFO consent for potential grant applications
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Securing CSFO consent early has become essential for farmers preparing capital grant applications, with delays now risking missed funding windows due to high demand and tight deadlines.
With Capital Grant funding likely to reopen in July, many farmers will already be planning their applications, fully aware that this funding round is likely to be time-limited, ending with little notice. So being fully prepared so that you can make a timely application is crucial.
One potential delaying factor could be achieving Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) consent. Failure to plan for this now could lead to significant delays, potentially meaning your submission doesn’t make the cut if the funding round is very short in duration.
CSFOs are part of the Catchment Sensitive Farming programme, which is a partnership between Natural England, Defra and the Environment Agency with the aim of supporting farmers to reduce water and air pollution and improve environmental outcomes on farms. It provides farmers and landowners with free advice, training and potential grant support to reduce soil erosion, nutrient and pesticide losses into watercourses.
The programme works in river catchments, engaging with farmers and landowners as well as collaborating with local trusts, authorities, trade bodies and water companies to monitor and improve landscape and water course conditions.
Importantly, the CSFOs offer confidential advice and grant approval for schemes like Countryside Stewardship, focusing on areas with the greatest potential for improvement in water and air quality.
CSFO consent is vital for a whole range of capital projects which might form part of a grant application, including concrete yard renewal; livestock and machinery tracks, roofing for sprayer wash-down areas, manure storage, livestock gathering areas, slurry and silage stores, sprayer or applicator load and washdown areas, above ground water storage tanks and first flush rainwater diverters or downpipe filters.
For these items, a CSFO needs to confirm whether the investment will genuinely help improve water or air quality, and Defra requires such consent for grants to be awarded. CSFO approval must be achieved in advance; it cannot be obtained retrospectively once an application has been submitted.
Unsurprisingly, there is high demand for appointments with CSFOs, with anything up to a two month wait and this is only likely to increase as farmers realise they need CSFO consent before they can access any new round of grant funding.
The message is clear: don’t wait until applications open to start the CSFO consent process. It is not too early to get your ducks in a row now, so that should the funding round last just a short time, you are ready to submit an application before the door slams shut.
James Hill is a land agent and associate at Arnolds Keys.
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