Several government grant programmes help farmers in England invest in equipment, technology, and infrastructure. These capital grants are separate from the Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue schemes and can often be combined with them.

Grant programmes open and close throughout the year in funding rounds. Before starting an application, check GOV.UK for current rounds and deadlines. Do not purchase equipment or start works before you receive a grant agreement.

Never buy items or start construction before receiving your grant agreement. Purchases made before the agreement date are not eligible for reimbursement.

Farming Investment Fund - Overview

Government capital grants for farm equipment, technology, and infrastructure to improve productivity and sustainability.

The Farming Investment Fund helps farmers, foresters, and growers in England improve productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability through capital grants for equipment, technology, and infrastructure.

The fund has two themes - Improving Farm Productivity (equipment and technology grants) and Adding Value (processing and infrastructure grants).

Scheme types: Productivity and Slurry theme, Adding Value theme
Eligibility: Farmers, foresters, growers, contractors in England
Application windows: Multiple rounds opened throughout the year
Geographic scope: England only

Farming Investment Fund

Equipment and technology grants

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) is the most accessible capital grant for working farms. It covers a wide range of equipment at 50% of cost, with a straightforward online application through the Rural Payments portal.

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF)

Grants of £1,000-£25,000 covering 50% cost of equipment for livestock, slurry, productivity and horticulture.

Grant amount: £1,000 to £25,000 per applicant (based on 50% of cost)
Grant rate: 50% of total eligible costs
Minimum spend required: £2,000 on eligible items
Maximum spend claimed: £50,000 (to receive £25,000 grant)
Application windows: Multiple rounds per year - check GOV.UK for current dates
Items covered: Equipment for livestock, arable, horticulture, tree health, productivity, slurry management
VAT treatment: Exclude VAT if you can reclaim it

Eligible equipment categories

Animal health and welfare: Livestock handling systems, weighing equipment, calf warmers, foot trimming crushes, cattle foot baths

Slurry management: Slurry separators, digestate separators, storage covers, trailing shoe/dribble bar applicators

Productivity: Precision farming equipment, field bins, harvest trailers, robotic equipment

Horticulture: Grading equipment, irrigation systems, tree planting equipment

Eligibility requirements: Business in England with CPH number or SBI number, and be a farmer, contractor, forestry owner, or grower
Item selection criteria: Choose items from published list on GOV.UK - minimum £2,000 (before grant), maximum £50,000
Quote requirements: Obtain quotes before applying. Do not purchase items until you receive a grant agreement
Application process: Submit application through the Rural Payments portal when a funding round is open
Grant agreement: If successful, you'll receive a grant agreement with deadline to purchase and claim
Claim process: Buy items, submit claim with invoices and evidence within agreement deadline

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund

Emergency recovery funding

The Farming Recovery Fund is not a standing scheme. It is activated by government only in response to specific severe weather events or emergencies. If your farm has suffered flood or storm damage, check GOV.UK for whether the fund has been opened for your area.

Farming Recovery Fund (Emergency Scheme)

Emergency grants up to £25,000 activated in response to severe weather events causing farm damage - not a standing scheme.

Grant amount: Up to £25,000 per business
Grant rate: 100% of eligible costs (no match funding required)
Eligibility trigger: Only opened in response to specific emergencies/extreme weather events
Recent activation: Opened for Storm Henk (January 2024) and severe flooding events
Typical eligible costs: Flood damage repairs, livestock welfare costs, boundary repairs, contamination clean-up

The Farming Recovery Fund is activated by government in response to severe flooding, storms, or other emergencies that cause significant damage to farms. It is NOT a standing grant - it only opens when specific events trigger government support.

When activated, it typically covers

Essential repairs to flooded buildings and infrastructure
Boundary repairs (hedges, fences, walls damaged by flooding)
Removal of flood debris and contamination
Replacement of damaged equipment essential for animal welfare
Emergency livestock feed and welfare costs

Each activation has specific eligibility criteria based on geographic area affected and severity of damage. Applications require evidence of damage and may require independent assessment.

Farming Recovery Fund

Countryside Productivity Grants (closed)

This scheme closed in 2021 and has been replaced by the Farming Investment Fund. If you held a Countryside Productivity grant agreement, it continues to be honoured. For new applications, use the schemes above.

Countryside Productivity Grants (CLOSED)

Historical scheme now closed - replaced by Farming Investment Fund and Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Current status: CLOSED - replaced by Farming Investment Fund and SFI
Historical grant range: £3,000 to £35,000 at 40% of project costs
Replacement schemes: Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Slurry Infrastructure Grant
For water management: Apply through Farming Investment Fund - Water Management theme

The Countryside Productivity Small Grant scheme closed in 2021 and was replaced by the Farming Investment Fund. Existing grant agreements continue to be honoured.

For similar support in 2025, farmers should apply through:

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) for equipment grants
Farming Investment Fund for larger infrastructure projects
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for ongoing revenue support

Farming grants and payments

Choosing the right grant

The grant you need depends on what you are investing in:

Individual equipment items (up to £25,000): Apply through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund when a round is open
Larger infrastructure projects (up to £250,000): Check the Farming Investment Fund for relevant themes such as the Slurry Infrastructure Grant or Adding Value Grant
Flood or storm damage repairs: Check whether the Farming Recovery Fund has been activated for your area
Environmental infrastructure (fencing, ponds, hedgerows): Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants may be more appropriate

You can hold multiple grant agreements at the same time, provided you are not claiming for the same item or work twice.

Related guides on this site

Compare ELM schemes to choose the right environmental funding
Detailed side-by-side comparison of payment rates, eligibility, decision framework, and agreement lengths.
Slurry storage compliance (SSAFO)
Understand storage regulations before applying for Slurry Infrastructure Grants.
SFI closure and transition
What the 2025 SFI closure means and when the scheme reopens.

Check which grants are currently open

Visit GOV.UK funding for farmers page to see which grant rounds are accepting applications. Bookmark it and check regularly as new rounds open throughout the year.
Confirm your eligibility

You will need a County Parish Holding (CPH) number and a Single Business Identifier (SBI) registered in England. Most grants require you to be a farmer, forester, grower, or agricultural contractor.
Identify what you need funding for

List the equipment, technology, or infrastructure you want to invest in. Match each item against the relevant grant scheme and check it appears on the published eligible items list.
Obtain quotes before applying

Get quotes for all items or works you plan to include in your application. Do not purchase or commit to buying anything until you receive a grant agreement.
Submit your application through the Rural Payments portal

Apply online when the relevant funding round is open. Include your quotes and business details. Allow time for processing.
Accept your grant agreement and complete the work

If successful, you will receive a grant agreement with a deadline for purchasing items and submitting your claim. Buy the items, keep all invoices, and submit your claim with evidence before the deadline.

Business Context Testing

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Access farming grants and capital funding

Equipment and technology grants

Emergency recovery funding

Countryside Productivity Grants (closed)

Choosing the right grant

Check which grants are currently open

Confirm your eligibility

Identify what you need funding for

Obtain quotes before applying

Submit your application through the Rural Payments portal

Accept your grant agreement and complete the work

Compliance Assistant

🧪 Business Context Testing

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Equipment and technology grants

Emergency recovery funding

Countryside Productivity Grants (closed)

Choosing the right grant

Check which grants are currently open

Confirm your eligibility

Identify what you need funding for

Obtain quotes before applying

Submit your application through the Rural Payments portal

Accept your grant agreement and complete the work

Related guides in Grants & Funding

SFI closure and transition to future farming schemes

Prepare for the end of BPS delinked payments

Business Context Testing

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