Have your say on eligible farm equipment for grant funding
© Tim Scrivener Defra is calling on farmers to determine which items should get grant funding during the second round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).
The fund provides grants for businesses to help with the cost of purchasing technology, equipment and infrastructure. It aims to help improve productivity in farming.
The first round of funding closed on 7 January; Defra received 5,624 eligible applications with a combined value of £53.5m.
See also: BPS entitlement values higher than in 2021
The full list of current eligible Items from round one can be found on the government website.
Defra wants to know which items should be included, removed or updated from the existing list.
Grant funding for items relating to productivity and slurry management are currently under review as part of the second stage.
Responses are due by 22 March for suggestions relating to animal health, and feedback on the current list of items should be submitted by 1 April.
A questionnaire has been made available by Defra for individuals to make suggestions and review the items included in the FETF.
Eligibility criteria
Grant-funded Items must be new, cost less than £62,500, be used for at least five years, and have short lead times for manufacture and delivery in order to be considered. They must also not require further approval from third-party organisations – for example, planning permission.
For an item to be considered as suitable for grant funding, it must also help achieve at least one of the following objectives:
- Encourage more sustainable pesticide use
- Aid better use of organic manures
- Improve water quality
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet net-zero targets
- Cut unsustainable use of abstracted water
- Encourage sustainable management of woodlands
- Advance agriculture, horticulture and forestry by encouraging investment in innovative equipment.
Source: Defra