On 20th February the RPA updated the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) for 2024 and they will be accepting applications soon. The FETF provides grants for equipment and technology that supports improvements in productivity, slurry management and animal welfare. You can apply for one grant from each of the three themes.
Eligibility for Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
You can apply for a grant for specific items of equipment and technology for farming, contracting, horticultural and forestry businesses.
Grants for the Animal Health and Welfare items are available to farmers and contractors in these livestock sectors:
- Beef
- Dairy
- Sheep
- Pigs
- Laying hens/Broilers
FETF Funding Available
The RPA will allocate funding after all the applications within the application window (yet to have been announced) have been received and scored, this funding is likely to be very competitive. You may receive any or all the funding you apply for. Two more application windows for productivity, slurry and animal health and welfare items are expected to open in 2024. The total budget for each grant is split evenly across the application windows.
If your application falls below the scoring threshold and is unsuccessful, the RPA will reject it. You will be able to apply again in a future application window. You can only accept one grant funding agreement (GFA) for each grant. When you have accepted a GFA you cannot apply again for the same grant in 2024. For example, if you accept a GFA for a productivity grant in the first window, you cannot apply for a productivity grant in the second or third window.
Farming grants available:
- Productivity: £1,000 - £50,000
- Slurry: £1,000 - £50,000
- Animal Health and Welfare: £1,000 - £25,000
If you are applying for an Animal health and welfare grant, you can increase your application score by providing evidence that you’ve discussed your application with a vet. You can apply for a fully funded vet visit as part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive Annual Health and Welfare review.
You could receive up to £125,000 in total, towards the purchase of new equipment and technology. The RPA will pay you a grant amount of 50% or 60% towards either: the average cost of the item – if an item costs you the same or more than the expected average cost in the item lists or the actual cost you pay for the item – if an item costs you less than the expected average cost in the item lists You can check an item’s expected average cost and grant amount in the item and specification lists.
Farm Grants Over £25,000
If you apply for a grant of over £25,000, the RPA will ask you to send supporting information or documents appropriate to your business including either:   
- Financial accounts for the most recent 3 years of trading
- Latest tax returns, management accounts or a statement of income and expenses from an accountant (if you are a new business or self-employed)
You’ll also need to provide evidence of match funding for the balance of your item costs.
The RPA will assess:
- The current financial viability of your business
- How you will fund the items until the grant is claimed
Agricultural grant items Available
The grant is a contribution towards buying new technology or equipment to help improve agricultural productivity, contribute to improving animal health and welfare, encourage sustainable use of pesticides and fertiliser, improve air and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions, reduce unsustainable use of abstracted water and encourage sustainable woodland management.
- All items must be new items and must meet the relevant specifications in each list
- All items must be paid for in full and can not be brought using hire purchase or lease
You can buy an item with a higher specification, but you cannot buy items that do not meet the minimum specification. For example, you can buy a 12 metre (m) drill if the minimum specification is listed as 6m, as long as all other criteria for the item are met.
To view the full list of items available for each theme please follow the links below.
Productivity
- Four Metre Direct Drill
- Cameras for Monitoring Farmyards
- Mobile Tractor Powered Livestock Total Feed Rotation Mixer
Slurry
- Robotic Slurry Pusher/Collector
- Fixed Slurry Separator
- Real - Time Inline Nutrient Analysis of Slurry
Animal Health and Welfare
- Mobile/Fixed Cattle Handling System
- Automatic Calf Feeder with Washing Facility
- Cluster Flush
How to Apply for FETF 2024
- Check the specification of the items you want to apply for in the FETF 2024 items and specifications lists – specifications may have changed from previous FETF item lists.
- Check the availability of the items you want to apply for with your supplier.
- Do not order or buy anything at this stage, unless you are paying with a refundable deposit. The RPA will reject your claim if you do not meet these conditions.
- Register with the Rural Payments service.
- Check your business details in the Rural Payments service are correct or update your email address or contact details. Your personal record on Rural Payments must have a permission level of either ‘make legal changes’ or ‘full permissions’ for the business you are applying for.
- Read the FETF 2024 terms and conditions.
- Register and login to the Farming Investment Fund service to submit your application by the application deadlines (this is separate to the Rural Payments service and requires you to complete a new registration). If you want to apply for more than one grant, you’ll need to submit separate applications. The service is an online system where you’ll need to complete questions about yourself and your business. Your details must match those in the Rural Payments service. Your application should take around 20 minutes to complete.
- You’ll receive an acknowledgement email within 24 hours of applying – you may need to check your junk folder for emails about your application.
If your application is unsuccessful, the RPA will write to you to tell you why.
If your application is successful, the RPA will send you a GFA. GFAs for each grant will be sent separately.
Use the Farming Investment Fund service to accept your GFA by the deadline set out in your GFA email. You’ll need to select each grant to accept each GFA.
If you would like assistance with an application for farm grants please contact our Farm Consultants at Douglas Green Consulting
