New £53 million investment for farming innovation

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for research and innovation
A person in a white lab coat stands in a greenhouse aisle, inspecting ripe red tomatoes growing on tall vines supported by white rails on both sides, with green foliage surrounding the walkway

The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP),will receive an additional £53 million investment this year. This means that those trialling new technologies and innovative approaches to cut costs, improve productivity and strengthen business resilience on farms will be able to benefit from a total investment of £123 million across the 2026/27 financial year.

FETF 2026 grant funding agreements now being issued

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure
Close-up of a sheep with a black face and cream-colored wool standing inside a metal pen, with other sheep blurred in the background. The sheep has a yellow ear tag and is leaning its head against the metal railings in a farm or livestock setting.

The first grant funding agreements for FETF 2026 are now being issued, bringing successful applicants one step closer to investing in new equipment and technology. Applicants should read their agreement carefully, accept their offer before the deadline and start planning equipment orders with suppliers.

Apply now for a water screening study 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Guest post, Water
Wide landscape view of a green marshland with tall grasses and patches of reeds in the foreground, leading to a calm, narrow stretch of water in the middle distance. A low tree line sits along the horizon, and above it a large, partly cloudy sky shows a mix of soft grey clouds and blue patches with warm light near the horizon.

Farmers in England can apply for a Local Resource Option (LRO) screening study. These studies help groups of farmers explore practical ways to secure reliable water supplies and improve long-term resilience. In this post, we explain how the studies work, what they can help farmers achieve, and how to apply.

Watch: lessons from farmers growing herbal leys in the Derbyshire White Peak

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming across the UK

Last summer, we visited farmers in the Derbyshire White Peak to hear what they’ve learned from growing herbal leys in improved grassland systems. Working with Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser Ben Rodgers, they have been exploring how multi-species swards can be integrated into grassland farming. In this post, we’re sharing the first films from that work.