Hardship help · England, Wales
Emergency Drought Grant 2026
One-off grant for household living costs for farmers hit by the 2026 drought.
- From
- RABI
- How much
- £2,000 per farm business (£2m in total, five regional phases).
- Who can apply
- Owner or tenant farmers in designated drought areas with under £500 a month disposable income or on benefits.
- Opens
- 7 September 2026
How to apply
- Call 0800 188 4444 for other help
Opened 7 September 2026; all five phases are now fully allocated.
Similar schemes
- Capital Production and Efficiency grant (SFS Optional and non-SFS versions) OpenWelsh Government / Rural Payments Wales40% grant towards standard listed equipment such as handling systems, EID and weighing kit, precision spreaders, soil aerators, boreholes and water harvesting equipment.
- Hot and dry weather: temporary support for farmers in 2026 OpenDefra / RPALets you cut or graze agreement land, make firebreaks and delay sowing during drought without losing SFI, CS or HLS payments.
- Infrastructure and Equipment grant - slurry, nutrient and biosecurity (SFS Optional and non-SFS versions) OpenWelsh Government / Rural Payments WalesGrant for larger farmyard investments such as slurry stores, lagoon covers, low-emission spreaders, manure stores, silage clamps and yard drainage, plus biosecurity facilities for SFS farms.
- SFS Optional: Habitat Review (route to enhanced habitat management funding) OpenWelsh Government / Rural Payments WalesRequest a free farm visit from a field support officer who draws up a five-year habitat management plan and schedule of works, which you can then apply to fund.
- Small Infrastructure grant - yard roofing (SFS Optional and non-SFS versions) OpenWelsh Government / Rural Payments WalesGrant for new roofing over livestock feeding, gathering or manure storage areas to keep clean rainwater out of dirty yards.
- Capital grants plans 2026 (PA1, PA2, PA4, PA5, PA7) Open all yearDefra / RPAPays for professional plans: implementation plan (PA1), feasibility study (PA2), agroforestry plan (PA4), moorland mapping (PA5) and species management plan (PA7).
Checked against the official pages on 29 October 2026. Sources: 1, 2. Always read the official page before you apply.