The FETF supports the purchase of equipment, technology, and infrastructure designed to improve agricultural, horticultural and forestry productivity in an environmentally and sustainable way. The FETF does this by offering a grant towards the cost of specific listed items.
Round 1 of the FETF has closed. Defra is looking to open Round 2 in the autumn of 2022.
In preparation for a new round of this scheme, Defra and the RPA are carrying out a review of items related to productivity and slurry management and are seeking farmer input. A full list of eligible items, their specification and grant amount is available here.
The deadline for members to feed in to this review is 1 April 2022.
Submitting your feedback
Defra want to know:
- which items should be included
- whether items should be removed
- the specifications that need to be updated.
You can review the items on the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund list via this online survey.
You will be asked to provide:
- a brief description of the item and its purpose
- which sector the item benefits
- which policy outcome (described below) the item fulfils and how
- 2 examples of the item including manufacturer and model, as well as a detailed specification.
In addition to adding items to the list, Defra would like feedback on whether any of the items or specifications offered are out of date because new products have entered the market. This can be fed in on the link above.
Eligible items – what can be included?
The FETF (Farming Equipment and Technology Fund) seeks to:
- encourage more sustainable pesticide usage
- encourage better utilisation of organic manures/nutrients
- improve water quality
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet Net Zero targets
- reduce unsustainable use of abstracted water
- encourage sustainable management of woodlands
- advance agriculture, horticulture and forestry by encouraging investment in innovative equipment.
Any item suggested for inclusion must, therefore, contribute to at least one or more of these.
In addition, potential new items for the list must satisfy all of the following criteria:
- be new
- be available “off the shelf”, ideally with short manufacture and delivery periods
- be retained and used for 5 years after grant has been paid
- cost less than £62,500
- not require approval for installation or use by a third party. For example, it must not require planning permission or a consent from the Environment Agency to install the equipment.
Items listed under animal health and welfare themes
These are already subject to a review. The deadline for feedback is 22 March 2022. More information on this activity can be found using the links below:
- Suggestions for items that will improve dairy cattle welfare
- Suggestions for items that will improve beef cattle welfare
- Suggestions for items that will improve meat chicken health and welfare
- Suggestions for items that will improve the welfare of laying hens
We want to hear from you
The NFU would like to receive feedback from members on what items they may have suggested for the next round of the FETF (Farming Equipment and Technology Fund).
We also would like to know members’ experience of Round 1 of the FETF scheme in terms of:
- the overall application process
- the list of eligible items
- any other comments they would like to make.
Members can submit feedback via [email protected]
