Philip Dunne welcomed announcement of awards by DEFRA to farmers who applied for the first round of Animal Health and Welfare Equipment and Technology grants, part of the Farming Investment Fund.

Over £385,000 was awarded to farmers in the Ludlow constituency, as part of a total £19 million awarded to over 3,300 pig, poultry, sheep and cattle farmers who successfully applied to the fund.

These grants, for sums between £1,000 and £25,000, will help farmers to invest in items ranging from livestock handling equipment to reduce lameness in sheep and cattle, to automated monitoring systems which free-up farmers’ time and limit environmental stress in poultry housing.

They form part of the Government’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which supports farmers to transition to higher welfare practices and systems, whilst improving animal health, boosting productivity and encouraging sustainable food production. Through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, the Government plan to offer further rounds of equipment and technology grants, as well as larger grants for bespoke infrastructure projects. These were announced in July this year and will fund improvements in calf housing.

In 2023, the Government is making more than £168 million in grants available to farmers to drive innovation, support food production, improve animal health and welfare and protect the environment.

Mr Dunne, who also farms cattle, said:

"I am pleased that funding has been directed towards supporting our farmers to produce Great British food in South Shropshire.

"Alongside our new flexible and accessible farming schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive, these grants will ensure that farmers remain at the heart of the rural economy, putting top quality British food on our tables."