This is a short post to say that the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025 (FETF) is now open for applications.
The fund is part of the Farming Investment Fund. It helps farmers, growers, foresters and contractors invest in equipment and technology that improve productivity, manage slurry, and support animal health and welfare.
Apply now
The guidance sets out the steps for you to apply.
The application window is open for 6 weeks from today (29 May) and will close at midday on 10 July 2025.
It explains what’s available and how to apply. You’ll find details of the 3 funding themes:
- Productivity
- Slurry Management
- Animal Health and Welfare
What the fund offers
The fund provides grants for a wide range of items, including equipment and technology that can:
- reduce costs
- improve efficiency
- protect the environment
- support animal health and welfare
Items are grouped into 3 themes. This helps applicants find what they need more easily. However, we encourage you to explore all the available items — you may find something useful outside your usual area of interest.
You can apply for between £1,000 and £25,000 per theme. The percentage of the item cost that is covered varies.
About the funding
FETF 2025 is a competitive grant scheme. Each theme has its own assessment criteria. After the application window closes, all applications will be assessed and scored. This means:
- not all applications will be successful
- you may not receive the full amount you apply for
In total, £46.7 million is available through this round:
- £30 million for the Productivity and Slurry Management themes
- £16.7 million for the Animal Health and Welfare theme
Learn more
We hosted a webinar on 21 May to explain how the fund works. The session covered:
- what the fund offers
- who can apply
- how to apply
- how applications are assessed
You can watch the recording here. Good luck with your application.
Questions asked in the webinar
We ran out of time to answer all the questions during the webinar. Here are responses to the ones we didn’t get to.
Q: Is the grant open to a sole trader operating for less than a year as a contractor?
A: Yes, a sole trader operating as a contractor for less than a year is eligible to apply. However, they may be asked to provide additional information.
Q: There is a product available that replaces a footbath for cows – it's a mat that cows walk over to clean their feet. It helps prevent digital dermatitis. Will this be eligible under FETF85?
A: No. An item must meet all the eligibility criteria listed in the specification to qualify for funding.
Q: I have a client interested in item FETF109, which would be installed on a new tractor. The tractor will be financed, so the invoice would go to the finance company. Can he apply, and what proof is required if there is no invoice?
A: To be eligible, your client would need to purchase FETF109 in full and receive a separate invoice from the tractor purchase. The invoice should be addressed to your client and not the finance company.
Q: Can the fund be used to upgrade existing Herd Management Systems, for example, to accommodate more cows?
A: All items, including Herd Management Systems, must meet all the criteria listed in the specification to be eligible. You can apply for an item even if you’ve previously received FETF funding for it.
Q: There used to be a mobile pig handling system on the grants list, but I couldn't find a supplier. RPA couldn’t suggest one either.
A: We don’t publish lists of makes, models or suppliers, as we do not wish to favour any particular manufacturer.
Defra cannot recommend or endorse specific manufacturers. Prices may also vary depending on supplier and farmer relationships.
Q: Regarding slurry items – could a slurry/sand separator (e.g. a non-powered parabolic screen) be included?
A: We need more information to advise. Please provide the make and model of the item and email it to: fetfenquiries@rpa.gov.uk
Q: What information needs to be gathered before applying—stocking numbers, employees, etc.? Is there a sample application form available?
A: The RPA has created a YouTube video showing how to complete an FETF application. It includes information on creating a FIF account and covers Animal Health and Welfare, Productivity, and Slurry themes.
Q: Does each theme have a separate budget? For example, if the AHW section is oversubscribed, will slurry funding still be available?
A: Yes. The total budget is £46.7 million. £30 million for the Productivity and Slurry themes and £16.7 million for the Animal Health and Welfare (AHW) theme.
Q: Can items be purchased from businesses outside the UK?
A: Yes.
Q: I'm interested in replacing our pig arks with insulated ones. Can I apply for more than one? And if I apply for five but only install four by the claim deadline, will I still get paid for the four?
A: If you change or remove items, your amended Grant Funding Agreement (GFA) must still fall within the £1,000–£25,000 grant values for each of the 3 FETF 2025 themes: Productivity, Slurry, and AHW.
Funding for each theme will be allocated starting with the highest-scoring applications. Your revised score must meet or exceed the theme’s minimum threshold. If not, RPA will withdraw your GFA.
Q: Did I see correctly that plate meters are no longer included?
A: Yes. Items that have been widely supported over several rounds, such as plate meters and farmyard monitoring cameras, have been removed to improve value for money and focus on innovative equipment.
Q: Can sheeted gates be used for pig pens rather than building entrances?
A: No. Sheeted gates under the AHW theme are intended for livestock building entrances only, to prevent access by wildlife.
Q: Why must perimeter fencing for cattle be 3m from a neighbour’s fence line?
A: FETF funding for perimeter fencing (FETF221A) under the AHW theme is for boundary fencing to separate cattle from neighbouring farms and reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Q: How long does it take for agreements to be offered after the application window closes?
A: 8–11 weeks.
Q: Are there any implications if I had an agreement last year but didn’t receive funding?
A: No. Each FETF scheme year runs independently.
Q: Once I’ve submitted a claim, how long will it take for payment?
A: RPA aims to process claims and make payments within 30 working days, provided all claim evidence is complete and satisfactory.
Q: Can I apply for a cattle crush or other equipment if I don’t yet own any cattle?
A: Yes, but you will need to explain the absence of livestock during the application process.
Q: If an item has a long delivery lead time, is there a deadline for delivery and invoicing?
A: Yes. Items must be delivered and paid for before you submit your claim and before the claim deadline.
Q: Will the claim deadline be included in the Grant Funding Agreement?
A: Yes.
Q: What if an item costs more than the listed average cost?
A: If the item is eligible, you will receive the maximum grant amount listed on GOV.UK, regardless of the actual cost.
Q: Does the scheme apply to the devolved nations?
A: No, the scheme only covers England.
Q: Can Asset Finance be used to cover the balance after the grant?
A: No. The item must remain free of Asset Finance for five years from the date of your claim payment.
Q: Can I apply for two automatic milk machines?
A: Robotic milking machines are not eligible under FETF. However, automatic milk feeding machines for lambs and calves (FETF94 and FETF239A) are available under the AHW theme. You can apply for more than one.
Q: Can I apply for perimeter fencing for cattle around a slurry lagoon, for Red Tractor compliance?
A: No. Perimeter fencing (FETF221A) is only funded under AHW as boundary fencing between farms to prevent disease spread.
Q: Can I claim retrospectively for livestock camera coverage under the AHW Pathway?
A: No. Retrospective claims are not eligible under FETF.
Q: What is the minimum spend for the Animal Health and Welfare grant?
A: £1,000—the minimum threshold applies to all FETF themes.
Q: Do contractors need a CRN and SBI to apply?
A: Yes. Contractors must be registered with the RPA and have their own SBI and CRN.
Q: Are any grants available for rainwater harvesting for beef, sheep, and pig farmers?
A: Yes. Rainwater harvesting tanks are available through the Productivity theme and are open to all livestock farmers.
Q: Can I apply for second-hand equipment?
A: No. Second-hand equipment is not eligible for FETF funding.
Q: What is the minimum grant funding threshold?
A: £1,000.
Q: I understand there’s a grant for water troughs. Does this apply to horses and donkeys, as well as cattle?
A: No. AHW theme items apply only to the livestock sectors listed. Horses and donkeys are not eligible.
Water troughs are not funded under the Productivity or Slurry themes. However, FETF413 (solar-powered water pump) under the Productivity theme is intended for use with livestock drinking troughs.
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