Farming Equipment and Technology Fund now open
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025 (FETF) is now open for applications.
We're working with farms to improve the way we regulate and support farming and the environment.
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The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025 (FETF) is now open for applications.
To bring HLS payment rates closer to those offered under CSHT and SFI, we’re investing £30 million to increase payments for most HLS options. The rates are now on GOV.UK.
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) opens for applications on 29 May, offering grants of up to £25,000 to help cut costs and boost efficiency on your farm. To help you prepare, we’ve published guidance on GOV.UK. In this post, we’ll give an overview of what the grant offers and how to apply.
Nature markets allow individuals and businesses to pay for the benefits that nature provides, often supporting environmental conservation and restoration efforts. A new standard aims to bring clarity and confidence to nature markets.
The UK’s National Action Plan for Pesticides guides farmers towards sustainable pest, weed and disease management through integrated pest management (IPM). By combining techniques like crop rotation, biodiversity, and selective pesticide use, IPM strengthens farm resilience, boosts food production, and helps nature thrive. In this post we share resources and case studies.
In this post, we summarise the government's £5 billion investment in farming. We outline how the funding is allocated across the Farming and Countryside Programme. We also highlight recent updates and future plans.
With record numbers of farm businesses in farming schemes and the sustainable farming budget successfully allocated, we will stop accepting new applications for SFI from today. In this post, we set out what it means for you.
Farmers and land managers in England’s protected landscapes can now apply for funding from the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme until March 2026.
Today, Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced new opportunities to apply for productivity grants in 2025. In this post, we give an overview.
To better reflect the contributions made by those with HLS agreements and to support the continued protection and management of these sites, we’re increasing HLS payment rates. We’re also encouraging those considering applying for a CSHT agreement to familiarise themselves with the process to prepare.
This blog is managed by Defra’s Farming Directorate. We explain the reforms to agricultural policy in England.
We share what we’re working on, what we’re learning and how you can get involved. Lean more about us.
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Each month, we bring together the latest policy updates, funding opportunities, consultations, research and statistics, helping you stay informed about the issues that matter to you.

Join two free evening webinars:
17 November at 7pm PA4 Agroforestry plans explained.
19 November at 12pm Farming Advice Service (FAS): AI in Agriculture.
25 November at 7pm Tenant Farmers Association (TFA): one year with Alan Laidlaw.
You can also watch previous recordings on our webinars page.

11 November Herefordshire Rural Business Hub at Skylon Park in Hereford.
12 November Nature Finance Conference at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London.
13 November ASAO Conference at the South of England Showground, in Haywards Heath.
Check out the list of other shows and events we’re attending.

The Farming Advice Service (FAS) provides free, confidential advice to farmers and advisers.
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) helps farmers in England protect water, air and soil. CSF advisers can provide advice on best practices and specific actions that will benefit your farm business and the environment.
We’ve compiled a list of organisations offering wellbeing support to those in the farming community.

The Farm Business Survey (FBS) gives farmers free, confidential insights into their business, helping them understand performance and see how their farm compares with similar businesses.
By taking part, farmers also help build a better picture of farming in England.

If you’re thinking about getting a heat pump, check out the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
The scheme helps property owners switch from fossil fuel heating to a cleaner heating system by providing money towards the upfront cost. Households are able to access the scheme and it isn’t means-tested.
You can get a £7,500 grant towards the cost and installation of an air or ground source heat pump. If your home is heated by oil or LPG, you could receive £9,000 towards a heat pump.
Find out more about getting a heat pump on the government’s Clean Energy website.