Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2026 Guidance Now Available | What South-East Farmers Should Know
The latest Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2026 guidance has been published on GOV.UK, ahead of the application window opening on 17 March 2026. This competitive grant scheme offers a significant opportunity for farmers, growers, foresters and agricultural contractors in England to access funding to improve productivity, enhance animal health and welfare, and upgrade slurry management systems.
£50 Million in Funding — Three Core Themes
A total of £50 million will be available across three grant themes:
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Productivity – £20 million
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Animal Health & Welfare – £20 million
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Slurry Management – £10 million
You can apply for a grant for eligible items in more than one theme, with grants ranging from £1,000 to £25,000 per theme. Combined grants of up to £75,000 per business are possible, subject to scoring and budget availability.
The fund is competitive — not all applications will be successful, and offers are made based on scoring criteria designed to maximise value for public investment.
What’s New This Year
The 2026 round introduces a few important changes from previous years:
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Updated lists of eligible equipment and technology for all themes — some items have been added or removed.
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Removal of the vet advice and new-entrants score uplift that applied previously.
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The Farming Investment Fund Service now requires that your contact details exactly match those in the Rural Payments service — you can no longer use a separate correspondence address.
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This will be the final standalone FETF round in its current format, with plans to consolidate several grant schemes into a simpler system from 2027 onwards.
Theme Highlights for South-East Farms
Productivity Improvements
This category supports equipment and technologies that boost efficiency and profitability. There are around 70 eligible productivity items, including:
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Precision tools such as camera-guided inter-row sprayers and weed wipers.
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Rainwater harvesting systems to improve resilience during dry periods.
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Robotic silage pushers that reduce waste and improve feed consistency.
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Autonomous UV-C light treatment technologies for new environmental and productivity benefits.
Applications are scored on the degree to which investments enhance productivity, benefit the environment and have broad industry relevance.
Animal Health & Welfare Support
Designed to help livestock farmers invest in equipment that improves animal health, welfare and production quality, this theme covers more than 100 eligible items. Examples include:
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Improved ventilation systems for livestock housing.
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Biosecurity equipment such as secure gates and water tanks to protect feed and stock health.
Livestock categories eligible under this theme include dairy and beef cattle, sheep, pigs, laying hens and broilers.
Slurry Management Enhancements
Better slurry management supports both environmental compliance and on-farm nutrient use efficiency. Eligible items include:
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Robotic slurry collectors to improve hygiene and reduce labour demands.
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Flow-rate monitoring technology for accurate spreading.
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Low-emission slurry spreaders that reduce ammonia emissions and enhance nutrient retention.
Applications are scored on improvements in slurry handling, environmental benefits and adoption across the industry.
Preparing Your Application
With guidance now live, you can begin identifying items that best fit your business needs and prepare your application well before the window opens on 17 March 2026. The guidance includes full specifications, eligibility criteria and application steps.
Be sure to check your contact details in the Rural Payments service before applying — mismatches could delay or jeopardise your submission.
Applications must be submitted via the Farming Investment Fund service and will remain open until midday on 28 April 2026. After the window closes, applications will be scored and funding offers issued.
Webinar to Support Applicants
Defra and the Rural Payments Agency are hosting a webinar on 12 March at 10 am that will explain:
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What funding is available and what’s new this year
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How to apply using the Farming Investment Fund service
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How applications are assessed
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Tips for submitting a strong application
This session includes a Q&A — a valuable opportunity for South-East farmers to ask specific questions ahead of the launch.
What This Means for South-East Agricultural Businesses
For many in the South-East — whether arable, mixed farm or livestock operations — the FETF 2026 represents a chance to modernise kit, reduce costs and improve resilience at a time of tight margins and ongoing regulatory pressures. Planning early could significantly strengthen the prospects of securing funding in this competitive round.
If you’d like help identifying eligible items, assessing return on investment, or navigating the application process, the team at Finn’s can provide tailored support. Contact us today for a planning session ahead of the application window.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs on the GOV.UK website, including the DEFRA Farming Blog post titled “Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2026: guidance now available” (published 24 February 2026) and associated scheme guidance documents.
All funding amounts, eligibility criteria, deadlines and scheme rules are correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change. Applicants should refer directly to the official GOV.UK guidance and application portal before making any funding decisions.
Finn’s provides commentary for general information purposes only and does not form part of the official scheme guidance.