Many farmers remain unaware that there is significant funding currently available for items ranging from solar-powered fences and water pumps to sheep and cattle watercourse fencing, gate-way improvements, and the instillation of watercourse crossings and bridges.

Virtually every possible solution to reduce the risk of sediment or nutrient leaching into watercourses is eligible for a funding application under the Farming for Water European Innovative Partnership (EIP), and will be approved and paid out where deemed eligible.

There is currently a cash pool of €60 million in funding available to support farmers working to improve water quality and to enhance natural environments and biodiversity while also supporting climate change mitigation efforts.

A farm walk organised by Certified Irish Angus on the farm of Ruairi Lynch in Mullagh, Co. Cavan, (Eircode: A82 NV00) on June 25, at 6:30pm will focus on how farmers can avail of this support funding.

As part of the initiative, farmers can avail of a grant of €634 to assist in the purchase of a solar-powered fence to make water courses stock-proof if a mains-powered electric fence supply is unavailable.

Many farmers are also eligible for a €2,500/unit support payment to install a solar-powered water pump and up to €300/unit support payment for water troughs, where the feature will remove the need for livestock to drink directly from a river or stream.

The initiative also offers payments of €6.75/m for sheep fencing, €2.77/m for single-strand cattle fencing where farmers meet the criteria and water bodies are being fenced off.

Where livestock and farm vehicles are crossing a river, a support payment of up to 50% of the cost of a bridge instillation or a maximum of €5,000/applicant is available in cases where the measure is deemed eligible.

In instances where relocating gateways could have a positive impact on water quality, farmers are eligible to apply for funding for gateway remediation and installation of a new gateway. Where approved, up to €720 can be drawn down here and an additional €118 is available for gateway resurfacing.

Where a wooded buffer along one or both banks of a river is deemed eligible, farmers can avail of up to €16/tree funding to plant native trees. Support finding can be availed of on up to 100 trees. Planting willow beds is also eligible for funding with a support payment of €3.50/willow whip up to 1,000 whips available for a support payment.

To find out more information about these supports as well as many others, farmers can contact their local advisor or attend the farm walk in Mullagh, Co. Cavan on June 25.