Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2023

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2023 is due to open in February and Farm Compare has prepared a quick guide of what you need to know.

You can apply for a grant for specific items of equipment and technology for farming, horticultural and forestry businesses.

FETF 2023 has been split into 2 themes:

►Productivity and Slurry items (Annex 3) Click here for full list of eligible items
►Animal Health and Welfare items (Annex 4) Click here for full list of eligible items.

You can apply to either theme or both, for items that best suit your business.  You can apply for a grant if your business is in England and you’re a:

►farmer
►horticulturalist
►forestry owner
►contractor carrying out services to any of the above

Grants for items on the Animal Health and Welfare list are available to farmers or contractors in the following sectors:

►beef cattle
►dairy cattle
►sheep
►pigs
►laying hens
►broilers

FETF grants are for a minimum of £1,000 and a maximum of £25,000 per theme. This means the maximum grant you can receive for Productivity and Slurry items is £25,000 and the maximum grant you can receive for Animal Health and Welfare items is £25,000.

If you were successful and received funding in Round 1 you can still apply for up to £25,000 per theme.  All purchased items must meet the minimum specifications shown in Annex 3 and Annex 4 although you can buy an item with a higher specification.

For example:

for Productivity and Slurry, if you want item FETF45 – Direct drill 6m, but you buy a 12m version instead, this is eligible as you have met the item’s minimum specification
for Animal Health and Welfare, if you want item FETF243A Sheep race (minimum total length of 4800mm) but buy a sheep race that is 6000mm long instead, this is eligible as you have met the item’s minimum specification
 

Let Farm Compare take some of the hassles out of your research and get your quote through us today.

Farm Compare has many of the approved items available now, from slurry items to sheep handling units, calf hutches, cow mattresses to calving gates. We have listed some of the eligible items below with clickable links to the products where you can hit locate a dealer to obtain a quote and more information.

FETF14    Tree shears capacity to fell 300mm diameter trees    Grip and hold shear harvester head, with additional side mounting brackets, specifically for the cutting of small diameter trees, coppice, and brush. Must have the capacity to cut, fell and hold trees of 300mm in diameter. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.   Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£) 8,047 Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 3,219       Item score: 56

FETF32    Dribble bar minimum working width 6m    Dribble bar applicator, minimum 6m working width, to fit to slurry tanker or attach to flexible pipe/umbilical system. Includes macerator, stone traps and pipework to connect to tanker or umbilical system. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.  Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£) 10,500    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)4,200   Item score  58

FETF33    Dribble bar minimum working width 10m    Dribble bar applicator, minimum 10m working width, to fit to slurry tanker or attach to flexible pipe/umbilical system. Includes macerator, stone traps and pipework to connect to tanker or umbilical system. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.  Click here to view eligible item  Expected average total costs of item (£)13,500    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)5,400   Item score  63

FETF34    Shallow injection systems 3m working width    Injection system to incorporate slurry under the soil surface, to fit to slurry tanker or attach to flexible pipe/umbilical system. Minimum working width 3m. Includes macerator, stone traps and pipework to connect to tanker or umbilical system. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment  Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£)16,500    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)8,250    Item score 71

FETF35    Shallow injection systems minimum 6m working width    Injection system to incorporate slurry under the soil surface, to fit to slurry tanker or attach to flexible pipe/umbilical system. Minimum working width 6m. Includes macerator, stone traps and pipework to connect to tanker or umbilical system. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.  Click here to view eligible item  Expected average total costs of item (£)17,968    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)8,984  Item score  76

FETF36    Trailing shoe slurry system 6m    Trailing shoe slurry applicator, minimum 6m working width, to fit to slurry tanker or attach to flexible pipe/umbilical system. Includes macerator, stone traps and pipework to connect to tanker or umbilical system. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.   Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£)14,750    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)7,375  Item score  63

FETF38    Umbilical hose reeler for slurry application    Umbilical hose reeler for slurry application, random or compartmentalised, trailed or mounted. Must include a minimum of 400m of hose.  Click here to view eligible item  Expected average total costs of item (£)8,250    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)3,300  Item score  51

FETF44    Direct drill 3m    Direct drill for precision drilling of arable and cover crops, using either tines or discs to produce the seeding slot. To be eligible the drill must have a minimum drilling width of 2.9m, must have no cultivation or seed bed preparation equipment in front of the seeding slot mechanism and the seed must be placed in the seeding slot. The drill must be able to drill through a fully established growing cover crop of at least 15cm in height. Purchase must include seed hoppers. The drill must be able to drill the full range of arable and cover crops including cereals. The following are not eligible: Cultivators with over-seeders or broadcasters, minimum till drills, strip till drills, grassland over-seeders, and grassland broadcasters. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.    Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£)30,135    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)12,054    Item score 54

*FETF205P    Direct drill 4m    Direct drill for precision drilling of arable and cover crops, using either tines or discs to produce the seeding slot. To be eligible the drill must have a minimum drilling width of 3.9m, must have no cultivation or seed bed preparation equipment in front of the seeding slot mechanism and the seed must be placed in the seeding slot. The drill must be able to drill through a fully established growing cover crop of at least 15cm in height. Purchase must include seed hoppers. The drill must be able to drill the full range of arable and cover crops including cereals. The following are not eligible: Cultivators with over-seeders or broadcasters, minimum till drills, strip till drills, grassland over-seeders, and grassland broadcasters. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.    Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£)35,690    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)14,276   Item score 59

FETF57  Fixed cattle handling system        A corral system which provides a safe and effective holding area and race-way handling facility to attach to a cattle crush. The handling system does not include the crush and a crush is not expected to be purchased as part of this item. The system should be designed and erected to suit the requirements of the individual site. To be eligible, it must consist of a minimum of two fixed metal holding pens, one circular metal forcing pen between 2.4 and 5m radius (internal measurement) with sides covered in a smooth material to prevent cattle from seeing to the side, leading into a straight or a curved race between 3 and 5m in length with the sides of the race covered. A sliding closure gate must be fitted at both ends of the race. The race must lead to a crush. If the crush being used with the race already has a sliding gate fitted, then only one sliding gate needs to be purchased for the race. The handling system must be of all metal construction except for two areas: you may choose to use wooden rails with a minimum cross section of 150mm x 100mm within the fixed race, and within the flooring for anti-slip purposes. Other wooden elements eg wooden floors to the race or crush, wooden gates or hurdles are not eligible under this item. All ferrous metalwork must be either galvanised or powder coated. Painted metalwork is not eligible. To be eligible the system must be fixed to the ground. This must be a long-term fixture such as concreting the supporting post into the ground or by bolting into the existing concrete floor. Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item  10,256  Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 4,102    Item score 72

FETF59    Cattle crush (manual)    The crush must have an internal width of at least 720mm. The crush must have a manually operated full length head yoke. The sides of the crush must be able to be opened to give complete access to both sides of the animal. The crush must have an anti-backing facility at the rear of the crush operated from outside the race. This can either be a U-shaped rotating rump bar operated from a wheel outside of the crush or a sliding gate again operated from outside the crush. All ferrous metal parts of the crush must be fully galvanised, or powder coated. Painted crushes are not eligible. Crushes with wooden floors are not eligible, but wooden elements within the flooring for anti-slip purposes are allowed. Any metal floor must have an anti-slip rubber surface.  Click here to view eligible item  Expected average total costs of item (£)3,199    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)1,279    Item score 88

FETF65    Calving gate    A calving gate that incorporates a gate within the frame to swing around to safely restrain a cow. Must include an adjustable full length head yoke with quick release, a device to stop backward movement, removable side rails or access panels within the swinging gate to allow protected access for medical treatment, assisted calving, suckling of calves or milking.    Expected average total costs of item (£) 573    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 229    Item score 97 Click here for eligible item

FETF93    Mobile calf milk pasteuriser and dispenser    Mobile milk pasteuriser and dispenser with minimum 150 litres capacity. With built in mixer, heater, temperature monitoring to aid pasteurising and remaining volume indicator. The system must be self-contained and fully mobile, with a rechargeable battery system providing power to aid mobility, maintain temperature during dispensing and aid milk dispensing. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.    Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£)8,115    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)3,246    Item score 42

FETF94    Auto calf feeder with washing facility    Programmable milk feeder for calves, capable of individually feeding and monitoring calf intake. Able to alert if calf is not drinking or drinking less than normal. Must automatically self-clean feeding tube and teat between each feeding. Must be capable of feeding 30 calves individually. Cost is for one programmable milk feeder and one feed station.    Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£)8,504    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)3,402    Item score 48

FETF95    Additional feed station   Purchase of an additional feed station for programmable milk feeder (FETF94 Auto calf feeder with washing facility) for calves. Each feed station should be capable of feeding 30 calves individually.  Click here to view eligible item  1Expected average total costs of item (£),623   Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 649    Item score 60

*FETF222A    Cow mattresses    Multi-layer comfort system with continual cover. A rubber or latex covering, with inclusion of foam, for the cubicle areas of cowsheds.  Mattress must be seamless. Must be at least 40mm in depth to be eligible. Cost is per square metre.    Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£)64   Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 26  Item score  57 

*FETF226A    Rubber flooring mats for cattle    Matting for use in livestock buildings, particularly feed passages, cubicle alleys, walkways and milking parlours. Mats are fitted by interlocking and can be bought with interlocking or straight sides. To be eligible, matting must be at least 19mm thick with anti-slip surface. Cost per square metre. Click here to view eligible item   Expected average total costs of item (£)32    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)16    Item score 68 

*FETF228A    Calf coat    A calf coat made from breathable material with a fabric interior and water repellent outer layer. Coat must be fully adjustable with durable clips or buckles for securing. Item must be available in a variety of sizes appropriate for the animal.  View eligible items here  Expected average total costs of item (£)19    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)7   Item score 73

*FETF229A    Flexible cubicle dividers    Cubicle partitions that flex as the cow enters to automatically adjust to size. Cubicles must be fully flexible in response to individual cows, and not simply adjustable and rigid thereafter. Each cubicle must allow cattle to change position from standing to lying and vice versa in a normal manner without difficulty, hindrance or injury. Cubicle width must be at least 1.8 x hip width (measured as the distance between the pin bones). Cubicle length depends on cubicle layout and size of cow. See AHDB Dairy’s ‘Dairy Housing – a best practice guide’ (which can be downloaded from the website www.dairy.ahdb.org.uk).   Click here to view eligible item  Expected average total costs of item (£)86    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)43    Item score 53

*FETF230A    Outdoor calf housing: Pair    A pod / hutch and pen specially designed for rearing calves outdoors up to the age of 12 weeks. Item must include the purchase of both a pod / hutch capable of sheltering 2 calves as well as an associated pen area enclosed by a metal hurdle system. Larger pods housing more than 2 calves are not eligible under this item (see FETF231A Outdoor calf housing: Group). Item must include a teat feeding facility and provide at least 2 square metres of indoor space for each calf with a live weight of less than 200kg, and at least 3 square metres of indoor space for each calf with a live weight of 200kg or more. The item must be intended for outdoor use and pods must have a front, top or rear vent for air circulation. To prevent overheating, the colour of the pod / hutch must reflect sunlight. The pod / hutch should be positioned in a sheltered area out of the wind. A pen area with an integrated roof for shelter / shade is recommended. Item should be easy to dismantle or manoeuvre for cleaning. To aid cleaning and disinfection, items with wooden elements are not eligible. All ferrous metal parts must be galvanised, or powder coated.   Click here to view eligible items Expected average total costs of item (£)1,207    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)604    Item score 45

*FETF234A    Rubber coverings for slatted floors for cattle buildings    Rubber coverings for concrete slats to increase cow comfort. Slat holes should be cut on site to ensure drainage capacity is maintained. Cost is per square metre. Click here to view eligible item   Expected average total costs of item (£)50    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)25    Item score 47 

FETF69   Mobile sheep handling systems   Trailer mounted mobile sheep handling system capable of holding and handling a minimum of 250 sheep with the aim to allow farmers to handle sheep away from the main holding. The system must include a minimum of 20 hurdles to create a gathering pen, forcing pen and must include a minimum of two side pens. The system must include drafting and dosing race with the ability to fit a foot bath. The trailer must be integrated into the handling system and form part of the handling race. Trailers which are not integrated and could be used for other purposes are not eligible under this item. The integrated trailer must be road legal. The handling system must be of all metal construction. Wooden elements eg floors to the race or crush, gates or hurdles are not eligible under this item. All ferrous metalwork must be either galvanised or powder coated. Painted systems are not eligible. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment. Click here to view eligible item  Expected average total costs of item (£)8,920   Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)3,568  Item score 67

FETF70    Fixed sheep handling system    Fixed sheep handling system that should be designed and erected to suit the requirements of the individual site. The system must have a combined capacity in the race, forcing pen, and gathering pen for holding a minimum of 100 adult sheep. To be eligible the system must consist of a gathering pen, forcing pen, drafting and dosing race, minimum of two side pens and the ability to fit plastic footbath in the race. The handling system must be of all metal construction. Wooden elements eg to the race, gates or hurdles are not eligible under this item. All ferrous metal work to be either galvanised or powder coated. Painted systems are not eligible. To be eligible the system must be fixed to the ground. This should be a long-term fixture such as concreting the supporting post into the ground or by bolting into the existing concrete floor.   Click here to view eligible item Expected average total costs of item (£) 5,444    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 2,178     Item score 70

FETF71    Sheep handler    Clamp style sheep handler for efficiently dagging, dosing and sorting sheep. If you are considering applying for funding on this item please note it cannot also form part of FETF69 Mobile sheep handling systems.   Expected average total costs of item (£) 2,915    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)1,166    Item score 57  Click here to view eligible item  

FETF75    Electronic weigh crate for sheep    Weigh crate with electronic weigh system. The weigh system will be a digital weighing device with the ability to record individual animal weights and track the live weight gains. If the reader relies on a mobile device to input, access and record this information the mobile device must be purchased as part of this item. The system will be compatible for use with EID. Must have the ability to download data to computer or mobile device. A weigh crate must be purchased with this item. If you wish to use an existing crate or combine weighing with another item, then you must not include this item in your application. Refer to FETF78 Individual electronic weigh system and FETF79 Weigh bars and weigh platforms for weighing livestock for weighing system components. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment. Click here to view eligible items   Expected average total costs of item (£)2,550   Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)1,020    Item score 80 

FETF78    Individual electronic weigh system    Digital weighing device with the ability to record and display on screen individual animal weights, track the live weight gains and access recorded information on an individual animal eg breeding and movements. If the electronic weighing system relies on a mobile device to input, access and record this information the mobile device must be purchased as part of this Item. Must have the functionality to operate with EID readers and operate auto drafting systems. It must also have the ability to be connected to a computer or mobile device to download collected information. Weigh bars are not included in this item they are a separate item - see FETF79 Weigh bars and weigh platforms for weighing livestock and FETF80 Weigh bars or platform for animals less than 300 kg. Group and automatic average animal weighing systems are not eligible under this item.    Expected average total costs of item (£)870    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 348    Item score 89

FETF79    Weigh bars and weigh platforms for weighing livestock    Electronic load bars or electronic weigh platform to operate with digital weigh heads / readers for use with cattle crushes, or batch weighing sheep or pigs. Load bars must be heavy duty (HD) type load bars. The system must be capable of weighing up to 2000kg (to allow for crush or weigh pen). Non electronic weighing systems are not eligible. Digital weigh heads/readers are a separate item see FETF78 Individual electronic weigh system.    Expected average total costs of item (£)896    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 358   Item score  85

FETF82    EID handheld device (stick reader)    EID handheld device (stick reader) with RFID technology for individual reading of animals. Must be capable of scanning tags and storing tag data, with the ability to connect wirelessly to mobile phones or other devices. Must be able to read HDX and FDX B tags.    Expected average total costs of item (£)580    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 232   Item score  85

FETF78, 79 & 82 Click here to view eligible item

FETF101    Auto EID drench gun    A drenching gun that wirelessly communicates with a weigh head or stock reader to automatically adjust the dosage of drench or pour on, depending on the animal’s weight. Must include wireless technology to allow the downloading of accurate medicine reports to a computer or mobile device. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment. Click here to view eligible item   Expected average total costs of item (£)795     Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1) 318   Item score  75

*FETF280A    Handheld digital brix refractometer    A handheld digital device that measures the refractive index of aqueous solutions such as colostrum to determine the percent Brix of sugar present. Device must have the ability to measure at least 0-32 degrees Brix range and a Brix accuracy of plus or minus 0.2 percent or better. It must have temperature compensation or stabilisation. Must be dust tight, drop resistant or durable and protected against moisture ingress. Recommended for purchase/use in conjunction with FETF289A Handheld colostrum milking kit. Serial number required - to be submitted with your claim for payment.     Click here to view eligible items  Expected average total costs of item (£)205    Grant amount (£) (based on a quantity of 1)82    Item score 81 

Steps you need to follow
►Check if you are eligible by reading the Who can apply section. More info click here
►Check the availability of your chosen items with your supplier. You will have to pay for and install all items before you can claim a grant towards them, and ahead of the claim submission deadline. The claim submission deadlines for FETF 2023 will be confirmed in your Grant Funding Agreement (GFA). The deadlines are expected to be October 2023 for Productivity and Slurry items and January 2024 for Animal Health and Welfare items.
►Check the items will be compatible with your existing systems, and you have suitable IT connectivity.
►Check that your business details and permissions (not your maps) in the Rural Payments service are correct. If not, update them. If you are not registered on Rural Payments, you will need to register. More info click here

►Submit your application online using the Productivity & Slurry FETF Application portal or the Animal Health and Welfare FETF Application portal. The application window for Productivity and Slurry items is expected to open later in February and for Animal Health and Welfare items in March.
►Your details will then be checked against Rural Payments. If you receive an email stating that your application cannot be accepted because the details provided in your application do not match those in Rural Payments, make any required changes and resubmit your application.
►Your application will then be checked for eligibility and scored by RPA. If your application is successful, you will receive a GFA offer by email for each application you submitted to either the Productivity and Slurry or Animal Health and Welfare portal.
►Accept your GFA on the online Acceptance portal by the date detailed in your GFA. You will be provided with a link to the Productivity and Slurry or Animal Health and Welfare acceptance portal in your GFA.
►Buy all the items listed in your GFA, making sure they meet the relevant item specification(s) listed in Annex 3 for Productivity and Slurry and Annex 4 for Animal Health and Welfare. If you don’t, you may not be able to claim any funding.
►Once you have paid for and installed the item and it is in use, submit a single claim for payment. This should include all the items in your GFA, along with any required supporting documentation, as detailed in the How to claim your grant section. More info click here

► Email your claim to FETFClaims@rpa.gov.uk by the claim deadline included in your GFA.
►You’ll receive your claim payment into your bank or building society account registered with Rural Payments.
►Keep grant funded items at the location stated in your GFA operational and in good repair for five years from the date your claim is paid.
►Record the items on the business asset register for a minimum of five years from the date your claim is paid. Keep copies of relevant documentation, including invoices, receipts and bank or building society statements for seven years.

Any queries-register for the info webinar | 28 Feb '23

Defra and RPA will summarise what is on offer in round 2 of the Farming Equipment & Technology Fund and how farmers can apply. There will also be a question and answer session. Click here to register