Read end-to-end by a FundingAtlas editor against the official source.
Quick answer
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) offers grants towards a defined list of equipment items that improve productivity, slurry management, animal health and welfare, and the environment on farms in England. Applicants select items from the published list, apply online when the window is open, then claim once items are purchased and installed.
Funding amount
Varies
Region
England
Stage
Any stage
Provider
Rural Payments Agency
Advisor view
This sits inside the post-CAP English farming support framework. The right scheme depends on land type, tenancy and farm system — and the rules shift annually.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Farming Equipment and Technology Fund really for?
- It works best for organisations that already meet the eligibility test on paper and have the operational maturity to deliver — not for businesses hoping the application will force them to formalise.
- What are the most common reasons applications are rejected?
- Weak evidence, eligibility misses, and applications that read as business as usual rather than the specific intent of the scheme. Most rejections are avoidable with earlier preparation.
- Can early-stage startups apply?
- Sometimes — but the strongest applicants usually have at least minimum trading history, a defined plan and the team to deliver. If you are pre-revenue with no plan, expect to be too early.
- How competitive is it?
- Demand routinely outstrips supply for the high-profile UK programmes. Treat any competitive call as a serious bid that needs four to six weeks of preparation, not a weekend.
- What should I prepare before I apply?
- A short written summary of what you are doing and why it qualifies, your latest accounts or forecasts, and any partner or evidence the scheme expects. Get adviser sign-off before submission.
- What happens after a successful application?
- Expect monitoring, reporting and milestone evidence. Plan the reporting cadence and internal owner before the funding lands, not afterwards.
Usually too early when
Advisor signal
You have no eligible land or holding, no business plan tied to the chosen actions, or you have not checked interactions with existing schemes.
Eligibility
English farmers, growers, foresters and contractors meeting Defra's sector and activity criteria for the relevant FETF round.
Common reasons applications fail
Ineligible land, double-funding with another scheme, weak record-keeping, missing inspection or evidence requirements.
What improves your odds
A clear farm plan, an up-to-date land parcel and holding register, and an adviser familiar with the current handbook and RPA process.
Typical successful applicant
An English farmer, grower or land manager with eligible land, an active business and operational capacity to deliver chosen actions.
Common misconceptions
It is not the same as the old BPS — payments follow action, not hectare. Mistakes around stacking with other schemes lead to clawback.
What comes next
Build the record-keeping discipline before the agreement starts; RPA evidence requirements drive most of the operational burden.
Funding context
Sits alongside Countryside Stewardship, FiPL, capital grants and private-sector environmental markets.
Related routes
Industries
Regions