Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025: Applications Open 29 May

Farmers across England will soon be able to apply for grants to help modernise operations, cut costs, and boost productivity, with the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2025 set to open on Wednesday 29 May.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today published full guidance on GOV.UK to help farmers, growers, foresters, and contractors prepare their applications. The FETF offers funding under three core themes:

• Productivity
• Slurry Management
• Animal Health and Welfare

Each theme provides support for specific equipment and technology designed to improve efficiency, environmental performance, and animal wellbeing. Grants will range from £1,000 to £25,000 per theme, with Defra covering a set percentage of the cost depending on the item.

What’s Available

In total, £46.7 million has been allocated for this year’s fund:

• £30 million for Productivity and Slurry Management themes
• £16.7 million for Animal Health and Welfare

Applicants are encouraged to review all three themes, even if their main interest lies in just one, as useful items may be found across categories.

Productivity Theme

This funding helps farmers increase efficiency and profitability. There are 66 eligible items, including:

• Tractor-powered electric desiccators (e-weeders)
• Robotic drills and guided hoes
• Inter-row hoes and weeders
• Rainwater harvesting tanks
• Camera-guided sprayers
• Robotic silage pushers

Applications are scored on potential productivity gains, environmental benefits, and adoption levels within the industry.

Slurry Management Theme

Focused on improving slurry storage, testing, and spreading, this grant supports better soil, water, and air quality. 17 items are eligible, including:

• Robotic slurry collectors
• Flow rate monitors
• Low-emission spreaders (e.g., dribble bars)

Animal Health and Welfare Theme

Designed to support farmers of pigs, sheep, cattle, and poultry, this theme offers funding for over 100 items, including:

• Piglet creeps
• Mobile cattle and sheep handling systems
• Cooling systems for poultry housing

Farmers can increase their application score by 20% by discussing their application with a vet. Defra encourages farmers to use the Animal Health and Welfare Review—a funded vet visit service—for this purpose.

Key Dates

• Applications open: 29 May 2025
• Deadline to apply: Midday, 10 July 2025

Applications will be assessed competitively. If the fund is oversubscribed, priority may be given to applicants who haven’t previously received more than £10,000 in funding from the Productivity and Slurry Management themes.

Join Our Webinar

To help potential applicants better understand the scheme, Defra will host a webinar on Wednesday 21 May at 1pm. The session will cover:

• What’s available
• Who is eligible
• How to apply
• How applications are scored

Participants will have a chance to ask questions live. A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend.

Get Ready to Apply

We encourage all eligible farmers to review the full guidance on GOV.UK and begin preparing now. Links to apply will be added once the application window opens.