More than 8,800 farmers in line for equipment and technology grants

Defra has confirmed that more than 8,800 applicants have successfully secured funding through this year’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF), with grant funding agreements now sent out.

The latest round of the FETF ran from 29 May to 10 July, with grants of up to £25,000 available to help farmers raise productivity, improve slurry management, and provide for animal health and welfare.

See also: Post-Brexit farm support – how is Defra spending the money?

It covered items including direct drills, slurry separators, robotic slurry pushers, and livestock handling equipment, typically covering 40-50% of each piece’s cost.

The funding round was competitive, with more than 9,500 applications submitted.

Defra says the successful offers are worth more than £68.4m. Unsuccessful applicants have been sent an email explaining why they were rejected.

One previous beneficiary is Colin Collins – a mixed farmer from Worcestershire – who explained how he used the FETF in 2024 to help with the purchase of a direct drill, so reducing the time and fuel needed for soil preparation.

He also invested in a sheep handling system to complement the move into regenerative farming – introducing sheep and cover crops into the rotation. “Without the grant, this would have been a lot more difficult to buy,” he said.

With a record uptake for this year’s FETF, Defra is encouraging successful applicants to read their agreements carefully to understand fully the terms and dconditions, and to make sure they beat the claim deadline of midday on 31 March 2026.