Farmers advised to act fast on FETF 2026 scheme

Farmers in England are being urged to act quickly as the latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF 2026) opens on 17 March, with £50m available to support investment in productivity, slurry management and animal health and welfare.

Applications close at midday on 28 April and, with funding allocated on a competitive basis, advisers warn early submissions could be crucial.

Guidance went live on Gov.UK on 24 February 2026.

This is the last time the scheme will run in its current format ahead of a planned restructure in 2027.

See also: Defra overhauls SFI with £100,000 cap and 71 actions

Grants range from £1,000 to £25,000 per theme – up to £75,000 per farm business – covering 290 eligible items.

Funding is split across three streams – £20m for productivity, £20m for animal health and welfare, and £10m for slurry management.

“It may say the funding is open until late April, but based on past experience, the sooner you get your application in, the greater your chance of success,” said Jonathan Henry, managing director of Garford Farm Machinery.

“When that funding is gone, it is gone for good, and at the moment the message from Defra is that this is the last round of FETF funding in its current form.”

Among the highest-scoring items is Garford’s tractor-powered electric weeder (funding available under FETF422), developed with RootWave.

It uses electricity to kill weeds and their roots without chemicals.

The item sits in the third highest ranking category with a score of 87 out of 100.

New additions to the 2026 offer include handheld digital Brix refractometers for colostrum testing, water heaters and autonomous grain monitoring robots.

However, scoring uplifts have been removed and fixed sheep handling systems are no longer eligible.

“This is a real opportunity to invest in technology that will future-proof farm businesses,” Mr Henry added. “But prompt action is essential.”

FETF 2025 final call

Meanwhile, the Rural Payments Agency is urging farmers with successful FETF 2025 applications to ensure their claims are submitted by midday on 31 March 2026 to avoid losing funding.

Separately, Defra secretary Emma Reynolds has announced that a new Environmental Land Management Capital Grants Scheme will open in July with a budget of £225m, which is £50m more than in 2025.