A £9m funding pot has been announced by the government for delivering free advice and support to up to 9,000 farmers while they adapt to basic payments being phased out.

Defra is inviting organisations, charities and consultancy businesses to tender for the funding as part of an interim Future Farming Resilience Fund.

Farmers and land managers will be able to access free support from organisations that are known and trusted in the agricultural community.

The support will focus on helping farmers learn more about the effects of reductions to direct payments and how their business models might need to adapt.

The content will be delivered through a combination of workshops or through direct, one-to-one sessions, and is likely to include advice on business planning, performance recording and succession planning.

Defra has asked for tenders for the funding on offer to be made by May 7, with a view to announcing the successful applicants in July.

Applications can be made on Defra’s website.

Support should be available from late July/August, which is later than the initial scheduled start day of May 2021.

The scheme has been piloted over the past 12 months.