Defra releases list of equipment included in the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
14th February 2023
Dairy farmers in England can now find out exact details on equipment that will be funded under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund after Defra released the full list of items last week.
The fund, which opens later this month, is part of the Farming Investment Fund and offers grants for specific items of equipment to increase productivity, boost environmental sustainability and improve animal health and welfare.
Grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 will be available and it is split into two themes – Productivity and Slurry (open later this month) and Animal Health and Welfare (available in March).
Grants Guidance
Guidance has also been provided by Defra, allowing farmers to prepare ahead of the grants opening. This can be viewed on their website.
Each item on the list has a score assigned to it based on an assessment conducted by Defra of how well it meets the scheme’s objectives. Should the scheme be oversubscribed, Defra will allocate funding to those items with the highest score first.
Those farmers who were successful in receiving a grant in the first round received approximately 44% of the total cost. The fund proved very popular and was oversubscribed, therefore Defra encourages anyone who was unsuccessful in the first round to apply again.
How to Apply
There are two separate ‘portals’ to apply for each grant: Productivity and Slurry and Animal Health and Welfare.
When the application window opens, applicants can visit the online portal and answer questions about the grants they are applying for.
The minimum grant is £1,000 per portal, so the minimum investment for those wishing to apply across both portals remains as it did in the first round.
If successful, applicants can then buy the item. They can then claim the reimbursement using their receipt.
Expanding the List of Items
Following a review of the first round of funding with farmers, vets, academics and industry group, additional items have been added to the list.
As a result, Defra has added:
- 19 items to aid productivity
- Two items to help with better slurry management
- 66 items to support animal health and welfare
The grants to co-fund investment in equipment, technology and infrastructure that improve animal health and welfare are part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Defra will publish more information on this very soon.
Standard costs across all items have also been reviewed and grant rates adjusted accordingly.
The list of items for both grants can be found here:
Animal Health and Welfare Grant
Stay Informed
On Tuesday 28th February at 2pm, Defra will host a webinar for farmers to find out more.
For more information, visit the Defra website.
