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  "path": "/2026/02/24/farming-equipment-and-technology-fund-2026-guidance-now-available/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-24T16:51:46.000Z",
  "site": "https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Guidance for FETF 2026 is now available on GOV.UK",
    "take advantage of our funded vet visit to have this conversation",
    "register for the webinar",
    "webinars page",
    "subscribe to the Farming Blog"
  ],
  "textContent": "The application window for the next round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF 2026) will open on 17 March.\n\nGuidance for FETF 2026 is now available on GOV.UK to help you prepare.\n\n## Funding available\n\nA total of £50 million will be available to farmers, growers, foresters and their contractors to invest in equipment and technology.\n\nFunding is split across 3 themes:\n\n  * £20 million for farm productivity\n  * £20 million for animal health and welfare\n  * £10 million for slurry management\n\n\n\nYou can apply for a grant towards the cost of specific items from approved lists within these themes. In total, 290 items are eligible for funding.\n\nGrants range from £1,000 to £25,000 per theme. You can apply for items under more than one theme, up to a combined maximum of £75,000.\n\nWe will pay a percentage of the cost of each item. The exact amount depends on the item you choose.\n\nThese items can cut costs, improve efficiency and protect profits.\n\n## Changes in this round\n\nWe have made some changes to the fund:\n\n  * some items have been added or removed, so check the latest lists carefully\n  * the vet advice and new entrants score uplift has been removed\n  * the option to use a separate correspondence address in the Farming Investment Fund (FIF) Service has been removed. Your contact details must match those registered in the Rural Payments service\n\n\n\nThis will be the final standalone round of FETF in its current form. We intend to bring together the strongest elements of our grant schemes from 2027 to simplify the application process and target funding more effectively.\n\n## Farm productivity\n\nThis grant can help you improve efficiency on farm and strengthen profitability.\n\nThere are 70 productivity items available in this round, and you can apply for a grant towards any of them. We’ve added a range of new items this year, including autonomous UV-C light treatment.\n\nItems include:\n\n  * weed wipers that apply herbicide directly to taller weeds instead of spraying the whole field, reducing chemical use and protecting crops and wildlife\n  * rainwater harvesting tanks that collect and store rainfall for on-farm use, reducing reliance on mains or abstracted water during dry periods\n  * camera-guided inter-row sprayers that target crops between rows, reducing chemical use and input costs\n  * robotic silage pushers that move feed towards livestock throughout the day, improving feed access and reducing waste\n\n\n\nThe full list of items and specifications can be found in the guidance.\n\nApplications for productivity items are scored based on the extent to which they improve productivity, deliver environmental benefits, and how widely the items are used across the industry.\n\n## Animal health and welfare\n\nAnimal health and welfare grants are available to commercial farmers who keep pigs, sheep, dairy cows, beef cattle, laying hens or broilers.\n\nThis grant can help you invest in equipment that improves livestock health and welfare — supporting productivity, product quality and more consistent production, while strengthening profitability.\n\nThere are over 100 animal health and welfare items available in this round, and you can apply for a grant towards any of them.\n\nItems include:\n\n  * ventilation equipment such as fans and chimneys to improve airflow in housing. This reduces temperature, humidity and harmful gases, lowering the risk of heat stress during hot weather.\n\n\n  * biosecurity equipment such as portable storage bins, water tanks and sheeted gates to prevent wildlife entering livestock areas and contaminating feed\n\n\n\nWe developed the list with input from farmers, vets, academics and industry groups. Following strong demand in FETF25, we’ve made only minor changes this year.\n\nThe full list of items and specifications can be found in the guidance.\n\nYour vet can help you identify the most useful improvements for your farm and the equipment that could support them. You can take advantage of our funded vet visit to have this conversation.\n\n## Slurry management\n\nThis grant can help you improve how you collect, store, test and apply slurry.\n\nBetter slurry management supports soil health and water and air quality, while helping you make the most of valuable nutrients — which can support nature and reduce the need for purchased fertiliser.\n\nThere are 17 slurry management items available in this round, including:\n\n  * robotic slurry collectors which automatically remove slurry from livestock housing, improving hygiene, reducing labour and helping maintain better air quality for animals and workers.\n\n\n  * flow-rate monitoring equipment which measures how much slurry is being applied in real time, allowing more accurate spreading. This helps avoid over- or under-application, improves nutrient use and can reduce fertiliser costs.\n\n\n  * low-emission spreading equipment (such as dribble bars). These apply slurry close to the ground in narrow bands rather than spraying it into the air. This reduces ammonia emissions and odour, improves nutrient retention for crops and lowers the risk of runoff into watercourses.\n\n\n\nThe full list of items and specifications can be found in the guidance.\n\nApplications for these items are scored based on how much they improve slurry management, the environmental benefits they deliver, and how widely the items are used across the industry.\n\n## Preparing to apply\n\nThe guidance is available now, so you can decide which items best meet your business needs and start preparing your application.\n\nThe updated guidance includes:\n\n  * the full list of items, grant amounts and eligibility rules (some items have changed, so double check the specifications)\n  * the steps to apply\n  * how applications will be assessed and processed\n\n\n\nWhen you apply, the contact details you enter must match the details registered in the Rural Payments service, so please check your information is up to date.\n\nAfter the application window closes in late April, all applications will be reviewed and scored. As this is a competitive fund, you may not receive all or any of the funding you apply for.\n\nEach theme has its own scoring rules to make sure public money is spent well.\n\n## Join our webinar\n\nWe will host a webinar on Thursday 12 March at 10am.\n\nDuring the session, Defra and the Rural Payments Agency will cover:\n\n  * what funding is available and what is new this year\n  * how to apply using the Farming Investment Fund Service\n  * how applications are assessed\n  * tips for submitting a strong application\n  * a question and answer session\n\n\n\nWe encourage anyone planning to apply to register for the webinar.\n\nWe will share the recording in this post and on our webinars page after the event.\n\nIf you’d like to receive an e-mail notification as soon as the grant opens for applications, subscribe to the Farming Blog.",
  "title": "Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2026: guidance now available",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-24T16:51:46.000Z"
}