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
61 DecemberFebruary 20222023 — See all updates

Applies to England

Find out about the Slurry Infrastructure grant for– farmersstage to1 helpof replace,the buildapplication additionalprocess or expand existing slurry stores to provide 6 months’ storage. The grant is opennow for applications until 31 January 2023.complete.

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)

ThisThe fundFarming providesEquipment grants towards the cost of equipment and technologyTechnology toFund improveRound the1 productivityis ofnow farmsclosed in a sustainable way.

If you received a grant funding agreement, the deadline for submitting your claim for payment was midnight on 31 October 2022.applications.

For general information about the scheme you can read the 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 is available to pig, beef and dairy farmers whose farming systems produce slurry. It helps 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.

FindStage out1 aboutof the Slurryapplication Infrastructureprocess grant,is checknow yourcomplete.

Successful eligibilityapplicants andwill applybe forinvited to submit a grantfull beforeapplication by RPA once the stage 1 online applications closehave been reviewed.

The success of your online application will depend on the number and value of online applications we receive and the projects that will most benefit the environment, based on their location.

The RPA aims to inform you if your online application has been successful or not by 31 JanuaryMarch 2023.

Submitting a full application

If you are invited to submit a full application for your project, you must submit your forms and supporting evidence by 11:59pm on 28 June 2024.

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

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 31 January 2024.

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

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, the deadline for Tranche 1 applications was 30 September 2022. The deadline for submitting Tranche 2 applications was 30 November 2022.

You can find information about the grant in the Water Management grant manual and the How to fill in a Water Management grant full application.

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’ll have been 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, the deadline was 14 September 2022 for Tranche 1 applications and iswas 31 January 2023 for Tranche 2 applications.

Information on the grant can be found in the Improving Farm Productivity grant manual and the How to apply for an Improving Farm Productivity grant.

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 61 DecemberFebruary 20222023 + show all updates

  1. Stage 1 of the slurry infrastructure grant application process is now complete. The deadline for tranche 2 applications for the improving farm productivity grant has passed.

  2. The Slurry Infrastructure grant online checker is now open until 31 January 2023. Water Management grant tranche 2 applications are now closed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  21. First published.

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