Guidance

Farming Investment Fund

Information about funding for farmers, foresters, growers and contractors about grants for investing in new technology.

From:
Rural Payments Agency
Published
16 November 2021
Last updated
2014 July 2022 — See all updates

Applies to England

Latest update

Guidance for the Adding Value grant for farmers and growers to add value to agricultural products is now available. The grant opened for applications on 9 June 2022 and closes at midnight on 21 July 2022.

Information about the Slurry Infrastructure grant for farmers to help replace, build new or expand existing slurry stores to provide 6 months storage is now available. The grant opens for applications in autumn 2022.

The Farming Investment Fund (FIF) provides grants to improve productivity and bring environmental benefits. FIF is made up of 2 separate funds:

  • Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (for grants between £2,000 and £25,000)
  • Farming Transformation Fund (for grants between £25,000 and £500,000)

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF)

This fund provides grants towards the cost of equipment and technology to improve the productivity of farms in a sustainable way.

Round 1

The FETFFarming Equipment and Technology Fund Round 1 is closed for new applications.

The FETF Round 1 manual explains what the FETF is for, who is eligible, the information needed to apply for Round 1 and, if an application is successful, how to claim funding.

Accept your Grant Funding Agreement

If you have received a grantGrant fundingFunding agreement,Agreement you mustshould submitcheck that items are available with your supplier and accept your offer by midnight on 1 April 2022.

You can accept (or withdraw) from the offer using the FETF acceptance portal.

Once you have accepted your Grant Funding Agreement, you can purchase your items and claim foryour paymentmoney by midnight on 31 October 2022.

FollowSome theitems guidancehave onbeen howvery topopular, so please make asure claimyou ororder as soon as you cancan. chooseIf toyou watchdo thenot videoorder ‘Howearly, you may not be able to submitget your FETFitems claim’by onthe YouTube.claim deadline.

FETF contact contact details

ForEmail any questions about your claim, email FETFEnquiries@rpa.gov.uk or call the the RPA helpline helpline on 03000 200 301 and select the option for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

Read the FETF accessibility statement.

Farming Transformation Fund (FTF)

This fund provides grants towards large capital items to help businesses improve productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability. There are 4 grants:

Adding Value grant

The Adding Value grant is available for growers or producers to add value to eligible agricultural products after they have been harvested or reared. It is competitive, so the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will score your application based on merit. RPA will award a grant to the strongest applications. You can apply for a grant between £25,000 and £300,000.

Read the guidance about the Adding Value grant, who can apply and what the grant can pay for before you apply.

Slurry Infrastructure grant

The Slurry Infrastructure grant will be available to pig, beef and dairy farmers whose farming systems produce slurry. It will help replace, build new or expand existing slurry stores to provide 6 months storage. You can apply for a grant between £25,000 and £250,000.

Read about the Slurry Infrastructure grant, who can apply and what the grant can pay for before the grant is open for applications.

Water Management grant

The Water Management grant online checker closed on 12 January 2022.

If your project scored highly enough, we’ll invite you to submit a full application. The success of your full application will depend on the number and value of applications we receive. You can apply for a grant between £35,000 and £500,000.

Submitting a full application

If we invited you to submit a full application for your project, you must do this by 30 June 2022.

Before you submit a full application for your project, it will help you to read:

Any planning permission or abstraction licences must be in place by 31 December 2022.

Improving Farm Productivity grant

The Improving Farm Productivity online checker closed on 16 March 2022.

If your project scored highly enough, we’ll invite you to submit a full application. The success of your full application will depend on the number and value of applications we receive. You can apply for a grant between £35,000 and £500,000.

Submitting a full application

If we invited you to submit a full application for your project, you must do this by 14 September 2022.

Before you submit a full application for your project, read:

What happens next

For Adding Value grants, RPA will assess the information you submit. If your project is suitable, you will be asked to submit a full application.

For a Water Management grant or Improving Productivity grant, RPA will assess your full application. If it’s successful, you’ll get a Grant Funding Agreement (GFA) and can begin to work on the project.

RPA will let you know by email if your application did not score highly enough.

Manage a successful FTF project

If your full application is successful, you’ll receive a GFA. Use the guidance ‘Managing a successful Farming Transformation Fund project’ to help you meet your project’s objectives.

FTF contact details

Email FTF@rpa.gov.uk or call the RPA helpline on 03000 200 301 and select the option for the Farming Transformation Fund.

Published 16 November 2021
Last updated 2014 July 2022 + show all updates

  1. Updated the FETF section to prompt grant agreement holders to submit their claim for payment.

  2. Added guidance on managing a successful Farming Transformation Fund project.

  3. Publication of guidance about the Slurry Infrastructure grant ahead of applications opening.

  4. Latest news edited to announce the opening of the Adding Value checker on 9 June 2022.

  5. Guidance published for the Adding Value grant for farmers and growers to add buy equipment that will add value to agricultural products.

  6. Edited to confirm the closure of the IFP online checker.

  7. The online checker for Improving Farm Productivity will close at midnight on 16 March 2022.

  8. Edited to confirm the closure of the IFP online checker.

  9. Deadline to accept FETF Grant Funding Agreement extended to 1 April 2022.

  10. Farming and Equipment Technology Fund information updated with details of how to accept a grant funding agreement.

  11. Edited to announce the opening of the Farming Transformation Fund Improving Farm Productivity grant.

  12. Edited to confirm that the Farming Transformation Fund Water Management grant online checker closed on 12 January 2022

  13. Edited - Round 1 of the FETF closed for applications on 7 January 2022.

  14. Link added to the Farming Transformation Fund Improving Farming Productivity grant manual.

  15. First published.

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