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
2314 NovemberOctober 2022 — See all updates

Applies to England

Find out about the Slurry Infrastructure grant for farmers to help replace, build additional or expand existing slurry stores to provide 6 months’months storage. The grant opens for applications onin 6autumn December 2022.

Guidance on how to apply and the information you’ll need to support your application is now available.

Adding Value grant: applicants invited by RPA can now submit a full application.

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 FETF Round 1 is closed for new applications.

If you received a grant funding agreement, theyou deadlinemust forsubmit submitting your claim for payment wasby midnight on 31 October 2022.

ForFollow generalthe informationguidance abouton thehow schemeto make a claim or you can readchoose to watch the video ‘How to submit your FETF claim’ on YouTube.

You can also read the FETF round 1 manual.

FETF contact details

For any questions about your claim, email FETFEnquiries@rpa.gov.uk or call the RPA 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:

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. The grant is competitive, so RPA will award a grant to those projects that have the greatest environmental outcomes.

Find out about the Slurry Infrastructure grant, who can apply, how to apply and what the grant can pay for before the grant opens for applications on 6 December 2022.

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.

Stage 1 of the application process is complete.

Applicants invited by RPA can now submit a full application.

The success of your full application will depend on the number and value of applications we receive.

Submitting a full application

If we invited you to submit a full application for your project, you must submit your forms and supporting evidence by 11.59pm on 31 January 2024.

Before you submit a full application for your project, read the guidance about the Adding Value grant.

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. The grant is competitive, so RPA will score your application and award a grand to the strongest applications.

Find out about the Slurry Infrastructure grant, who can apply, how to apply and what the grant can pay for before the grant is open for applications in autumn 2022.

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, theyou deadlinemust fordo Tranchethis 1by applications was 30 September 2022.2022 The deadline for submitting Tranche 21 applicationsapplications, isor 30 November 2022.2022 for Tranche 2 applications.

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

Any planning permission or abstraction licences for Tranche 1 applications must be in place by 31 March 2023, and for Tranche 2 applications by 31 May 2023.

Improving Farm Productivity grant

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

If your project scored highly enough, you’llwe’ll haveinvite beenyou invited 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, theyou deadlinemust wasdo this by 14 September 20222022.

Before foryou Tranchesubmit 1a applicationsfull andapplication is 31 January 2023 for Trancheyour 2project, applications.read:

What happens next

For Water Management, Improving Farm Productivity and Adding Value grants, 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 2314 NovemberOctober 2022 + show all updates

  1. Dates for the opening of the slurry infrastructure grant have been updated, along with information about deadlines for other grants.

  2. Added date for planning permission or abstraction licences for Tranche 2 Water Management Grant applications.

  3. Applicants invited by RPA can now submit a full application for an Adding Value grant.

  4. Edited to confirm the closure of the Adding Value online checker at midnight on 21 July 2022.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  19. First published.

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