Farmers are being urged to submit their grant applications with Severn Trent before the upcoming deadline.

Severn Trent has asked that all STEPS grant applications are completed before the Saturday, November 30 deadline.

The water company wants applications in early to ensure all funded projects are completed this year.

The STEPS grants help farmers and landowners in priority catchments invest in solutions to reduce water pollution risks and protect the environment, while also supporting farm efficiencies.

Over the last decade, the company has awarded more than 2,300 grants for various equipment and land management improvements.

All STEPS funding options aim to reduce the amount of pesticide, nitrate, and cryptosporidium entering watercourses.

Popular options include herbal leys, in-field washdown kits, precision equipment, livestock fencing, and establishing cover crops.

Unlike previous years, all work funded by the 2024 STEPS must be completed and claimed for by Tuesday, December 31.

Staffordshire-based dairy farmer Stuart Heath has been future-proofing his farm with support from Severn Trent since the inception of STEPS.

He said: "Early on, we used the funding to help purchase slurry pumping equipment - an umbilical kit, flow meter and a dribble bar – to get us up and running with applying slurry more accurately and avoid needing to take heavy machinery across the fields.

"This helps prevent structural damage to the soils."

He added: "We’ve since used STEPS funding to concrete a high-traffic area between the main cow shed and the silage clamp, which has been really beneficial – it’s become a lot easier to clean up and keep the yards tidy, meaning there’s less dirty water runoff.

"The grants have enabled us to bring forward some of our investment ideas, making them happen sooner than we’d realistically be able to do on our own.

"It’s essential we look after the environment for the next generation."