The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) is set to open its doors to applicants on 29 May, offering a significant boost to farmers, growers, foresters, and their contractors. With a total of £46.7 million up for grabs, this fund aims to enhance productivity, improve slurry management, and bolster animal health and welfare across the industry. Today, the 2025 FETF guidance was published on GOV.UK, providing a comprehensive overview to help potential applicants prepare.
The FETF is structured around three key themes: Productivity, Slurry Management, and Animal Health and Welfare. Each theme comes with its own set of eligible items and scoring criteria, designed to ensure that public money is used effectively and efficiently. Grants range from £1,000 to a maximum of £25,000 per theme, covering a percentage of the cost of the approved equipment.
The application window opens on 29 May and will close at midday on 10 July, giving applicants a six-week period to submit their bids. Given the competitive nature of the fund, it’s crucial for applicants to familiarize themselves with the guidance and prepare their applications thoroughly. Successful applicants will be those who can demonstrate the most significant improvements in productivity, environmental benefits, and industry adoption.
The Productivity theme, backed by £30 million, focuses on boosting farm efficiency and profitability. With 66 different items of productivity equipment eligible for grants, farmers have a wide range of options to choose from. Popular items include tractor-powered electric desiccators for weed control, robotic drills, and precision farming equipment. Applications will be scored based on productivity improvements, environmental benefits, and industry adoption. To increase the chances of success, applicants should ensure their Single Business Identifier (SBI) has not claimed more than £10,000 from previous FETF rounds, although this will only be a factor if the fund is oversubscribed.
Slurry Management, also supported by £30 million, aims to improve how slurry is collected, stored, tested, and spread. Better slurry management can enhance soil health, water and air quality, and make the most of valuable nutrients. Eligible items include robotic slurry collectors, flow rate monitoring equipment, and low-emission slurry spreaders. Scoring will be based on improvements in slurry management, environmental benefits, and industry adoption, with the same £10,000 cap on previous funding applying.
The Animal Health and Welfare theme, with £16.7 million available, is designed to help farmers improve livestock health and welfare, leading to higher productivity and more reliable food production. Over 100 eligible items are available, including piglet creeps, mobile cattle and sheep handling systems, and cooling systems for poultry housing. Applications can increase their score by 20% by providing evidence of a discussion with a vet, highlighting the importance of veterinary input in identifying the most suitable equipment. The fund also covers the cost of a vet visit for this purpose.
To help potential applicants understand the fund and the application process, a webinar will be hosted on 21 May at 1pm. The session will cover what the fund offers, eligibility criteria, how to apply, and how applications are assessed. A recording of the webinar will be available for those who cannot attend the live session.
