The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone in England, Scotland and Wales lifted on 04 June 2026. Strict biosecurity is still vital to protect the health and welfare of your birds. It’s also important to register with Defra if you’re a keeper of captive birds so that you can be contacted in the event of a bird flu outbreak. Read more here.
Do you have a passion for rural life and success in securing grants and sponsorship? Warwickshire Rural Hub CIC is seeking to engage its first self-employed fundraiser and business development consultant to help build a varied and sustainable funding base to support our range of activities, including our farmer health and welfare events. The role will be flexible working of up to 10 hours/week, £25 per hour and home based with occasional meetings in mid-Warwickshire. The post is fixed term of 46 weeks.
Download the full details of the role below:
Job Description Fundraiser 2026
If you want a chat about the role, please telephone our Co-ordinator Jane Hampson on 07780 159291 or email info@ruralhub.org.uk
Closing date for applications is Friday 26 June.
The tool is designed to help calculate the financial benefit of carrying out SFI26 actions. It will demonstrate how much income could be received from selecting SFI actions and the net benefit once the associated costs have been subtracted. The cost of carrying out an SFI action will vary from farm to farm depending on a variety of factors, including the set-up of the farm. The costs calculated for the SFI tool are based on averages and common assumptions. Visit this page to access the tool.
The post, which can be either part time or full time, will be based at Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote. This is a livestock farm focusing on rare breeds and rotational low input grazing that also doubles as an educational site.
The successful candidate will take an active role in the care and management of
farming livestock and general landscape in the Trust’s care. This includes assisting with landscape activities including maintenance of farm boundaries, field water systems, footpaths, biodiversity and water/soil improvements.
The closing date for applications is 21 June 2026. Interviews are being held on 1 and 2 July.
Read full details of the role and how to apply on this link.
Defra expect to open the first application window for SFI 2026 on 30 June 2026 for 2 groups:
- small farms
- farms without an existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement
They will invite a small number of farmers who are eligible for Window 1 to apply from around 18 June. This is to test and refine the application service in a controlled way. A second application window for all farms will open in September.
The SFI26 offer is an iterated version of the 2024 scheme and near-final information is now available. Most features remain the same, so it should look and feel familiar if you’ve applied before. Some improvements have been made to simplify and streamline the offer. Read more on this Defra blog post.
Defra has launched funded Poultry Biosecurity Reviews as part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
A Poultry Biosecurity Review is a funded vet visit designed to give you practical, site-specific advice based on how your business works. You’ll receive £430 per review to help cover the cost of the visit. You can choose your own vet, arrange the visit at a time that works for you and pay them as usual, then claim the money back through the scheme. To be eligible for a funded visit you must have a SBI and CPH number and care for a minimum of 1000 hens or 500 geese/turkeys/ducks. Read more here.
RABI is offering £200 per school-aged child aged 4 – 16 to support farming families with back-to-school costs.
Before applying, please make sure you have:
• The number of children you receive Child Benefit for
• Your Child Benefit payment amount
• A bank statement from the last two months showing your Child Benefit payment
Check eligibility and get prepared here:
Phase 2 of the grants opens on 29 June.
A total of £225 million will be invested through capital grants this year to help farmers and land managers carry out environmental improvements across England. Applications open in July, with funding available for a variety of capital items to support hedgerow and tree planting, restore boundaries, improve natural flood management, and support better air and water quality.
Funding limits will apply to 4 of the groups:
- Up to £25,000 for the air quality, natural flood management and water quality groups
- Up to £35,000 for the boundaries, trees and orchards group
The guidance for applying for a capital grant in 2026 is now available on this link.
The Treasury announced on Wednesday 20 May that red diesel duty would be cut by one third, to take the duty to the lowest it’s been in more than 20 years, “helping to keep the cost of doing business down at a difficult time when red diesel prices are around 50% more than their pre-crisis levels”.
The change means the duty on red diesel will be reduced from 10.18p/litre to 6.48p/litre from 15 June until the end of 2026.
Read more about all the support for drivers on this Treasury press release.
A charitable trust is inviting application for help with the costs of further or higher education for students studying an agriculture-related course in 2026/27. The Deakin and Coombe Memorial Trust provides grants of up to £1000 towards items such as training courses, laptops and books.
Visit www.nfuonline.com/deakincombegrants to read more and download an application form. Closing date is 7 September 2026.