We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Finding money to diversify into renewables
COUNTLESS farmers are desperate to diversify their business but have no money to invest.
The newest diversification craze is renewable energy where farmers look to produce their own heat, fuel and electricity on-farm.
But the age old cost barrier remains strong as ever.
Even if long-term returns are promised in the renewable sector, a huge wad of cash is necessary to get you going.
A business will need to tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of pounds to buy its own mini-refinery to produce biofuels, build an anaerobic digestion plant to produce biogas or install a biomass burner.
And in an industry where businesses are often capital, rather than cash rich, the barrier to entry remains too great.
But according to finance expert Shash Shoma, from the Business Advice Bureau, there is plenty of cash to give farmers the leg-up they need, the trick is in finding it.
Speaking to Farmers Guardian at the European Bioenergy Expo and Conference at Stoneleigh Park last week Mr Shoma said: “People are aware that there are government soft loans available – they have been available since 1992.
The problem is getting access and understanding the administration and the loopholes you have to go through to get them.”
The Government, Local Authorities and the European Union all have pots of money and grant aid to assist, said Mr Shoma, but many farmers simply do not have the time or skills to access it, he added.
“Structuring your business to optimise your application and making the right deal are specialist areas and you need advisors to get you there,” he said.
Mr Shoma has been working as an intermediary to help businesses access government-assisted funds for many years.
He said the thought of spending day after day leafing through reams of government documents and applications pushed many farmers his way.
“There are professional organisations, like ours, to help farmers get access to money.
“It is a minefield out there which is why I advise farmers to seek help from the experts to maximise their potential to diversify,” said Mr Shoma.