Defra's Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2026 offers UK farmers grants of up to £75,000 for precision agriculture tools including GPS guidance, drones, soil sensors, robotic platforms, and variable-rate sprayers. This is the final standalone round — applications close midday 28 April 2026.
What Is FETF 2026?
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2026 is Defra's annual grant programme supporting English farmers in purchasing productivity-improving equipment. With a total budget of £50 million, it offers grants of £1,000 to £25,000 per theme, up to a maximum of £75,000 per farm across all three themes.
This is the final standalone round of FETF. From 2027, the fund will be consolidated into other schemes. If you have been considering an investment in precision agriculture technology, this is the year to apply.
Three Funding Themes
Productivity (£20M) — covers precision agriculture tech, automation, robotics, crop storage, and irrigation equipment
Animal Health & Welfare (£20M) — equipment for cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry management
Slurry Management (£10M) — pumps, separators, nutrient analysers, and related infrastructure
For precision agriculture, the Productivity theme is the primary category. The grant rate covers 40–50% of the item cost.
Precision Agriculture Items Available
GPS and Guidance
GPS Light Bar (£323 grant) — 20cm pass-to-pass accuracy for field operations
Assisted Steer System (£764 grant) — retrofit hands-free electric steering
Sensors and Monitoring
Digital Weather Station (£721) — full environmental monitoring
Remote Soil Moisture Sensing (£318) — wireless soil moisture monitoring
Soil Health Monitor Package (£217) — pH, penetrometer, and moisture
Real-Time In-Line Grain Analyser (£4,236) — NIR spectroscopy during harvest
Drones
Drone for Applying Authorised Products (£14,476) — 5m spraying width for fertiliser and seed application (not pesticides)
Variable Rate and Precision Spraying
Nitrogen Levels via Light Reflectance (£5,340) — tractor-mounted real-time variable rate application
Camera Guided Spot Sprayer 24m (£23,000) — individual nozzle control with weed recognition
Camera Guided Variable Rate Control (£9,750) — multispectral cameras for targeted application
Robotics (New for 2026)
Robotic Drill and Guided Hoe (£25,000) — autonomous drilling and mechanical weeding
Robotic Platforms and Carts (£11,920) — autonomous transport
Autonomous Grain Monitoring Robot (£9,600) — automated grain store monitoring
How FETF Connects to SFI26
FETF 2026 and the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26) are designed as complementary programmes. SFI26 pays farmers for delivering measurable environmental outcomes such as improved soil health, nutrient efficiency, and habitat enhancement. FETF provides the capital to purchase the tools needed to deliver those outcomes.
Variable-rate equipment, soil sensors, drone imagery, and precision sprayers funded by FETF are the exact technologies needed to meet SFI26's data-driven delivery requirements, including geo-tagged evidence and photo records.
How to Apply
Register in the Rural Payments service if you do not already have an SBI number
Register separately in the Farming Investment Fund service at rpagrants.defra.gov.uk
Submit applications under your SBI with linked email address
You must have "make legal changes" or "full permissions" on the account
Important: Do not purchase items before receiving your Grant Funding Agreement. Refundable deposits of up to 50% are permitted.
Key Details
Deadline: Midday, 28 April 2026
Budget: £50 million total
Per farm: Up to £75,000 across all themes
Eligibility: Farmers, horticulturalists, and forestry owners based in England
Contact: FETFenquiries@rpa.gov.uk / 03000 200 301
Full item lists and specifications are available on GOV.UK.