Some £50 million is available to invest in new farm kit following the opening of Defra’s 2026 Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).
The scheme has a tight deadlione, closing to applications at midday on 28 April. Demand is expected to be high – so early application is advised.
Funding is split across three themes: farm productivity (£20m); animal health and welfare (£20m); and slurry management (£10m). Applicants must choose from three approved lists of 290 eligible items.
Scheme changes
The 2026 round includes some changes to the scheme. Certain items have been added or removed from the eligible list, while some scoring uplifts have been withdrawn.
Defra will pay a percentage of the cost of each item. Grants range from £1,000 to £25,000 – depending on the item. Farmers and contractors can apply for one item from each theme, up to a combined totalof £75,000.
This is the last year of the fund in its current form. It aims to help farmers cut costs, improve efficiency and improve the resilience of their business. FETF-funded items must be kept for five years from the date the grant was paid.
Helpful
Grants could also be helpful for farmers wanting to participate in an ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) project, says Tom Allen-Stevens, founder of the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN).
“The FETF is a fantastic opportunity for farmers to invest in kit that improves their productivity. I urge anyone wanting to innovate, to take time to look through the list to see what could work for your business.
“If you’re thinking about applying it’s also worth asking whether it could form the basis of an ADOPT project. It’s a great way to test something out on your farm, see how it performs, and share the results with other farmers.”
FETF applications close at midday on 28 April. For full details and how to apply, please visit the Farming Investment Fund portal at rpagrants.defra.gov.uk/welcome