Act now to grab an FETF grant
Grants for a wide range of equipment to boost spray application accuracy and efficiency, along with mechanical and electric weeders are available in the latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).
Eligible equipment includes simple weedwipers, retro-fit GPS light bars, assisted steering and closed transfer systems right through the most advanced spot sprayers and electric weeders.
Applications opened on 17th March and will close at Midday on 28th April 2026. Successful applicants will receive grants of between £1,000 to £25,000, for equipment in the ‘Improving Productivity’ class.
There is also funding available towards equipment in ‘Managing Slurry’ and ‘Improving animal health and Welfare’ categories.
Full details on FETF eligible equipment and how to apply can be found HERE.
FETF419 - Closed transfer system for sprayers for containers over 20 litres
Expected average cost of item £1,260
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
FETF420 - Closed transfer system for sprayers for containers under 20 litres
Expected average cost of item £3,838
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
FETF418 - Automatic spray boom height control
Expected average cost of item £10,495
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
Note: Must be able to be retrofitted to existing sprayers.
FETF46 - GPS light bar
Expected average cost of item £809
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
Note: Must have a pass to pass accuracy of 20cm or better and be linked to a smart phone or tablet)
FETF47 - Assisted steer system (retro fitted for older tractors)
Expected average cost of item £1,911
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
Note:
- Software or activation codes for existing or pre-installed automatic steering systems are not eligible.
- You cannot apply or claim for this item where it is integrated into one unit with FETF46 – GPS light bar. To be eligible, you must purchase two separate items.
FETF118 - Digital weather station
Expected average cost of item £1,804
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
Note: Must link wirelessly to a computer and be able to measure and record specified data.
FETF215 – Weed wiper 2.4m
Expected average cost of item £3,300
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
Note: Machines much be a minimum 2.4m working width
FETF109 - Central tyre inflation system
Expected average cost of item £6,933
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
ETF602 - Camera guided variable rate control
Expected average cost of item £19,500
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
Note: Must use multispectral cameras to scan the crop to calculate in real time the crop’s fertiliser or sprays needs
FETF216 - Camera guided inter-row sprayer 3m
Expected average cost of item £8,729
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
Item must:
- be a camera guided inter-row sprayer
- have a minimum 3m working width
- use real-time photo recognition to identify weeds
- control the sprayer to spot spray weeds between rows of growing crops
- switch individual spray nozzles on and off independently
- automatically distinguish between crop rows and weeds between the crop rows
FETF425 - Camera guided spot sprayer 24m
Expected average cost of item £46,000
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
Item must:
- include high definition cameras capable of distinguishing plants
- include computer with software recognition to automatically distinguish weeds from the growing crop
- include electronic system to link to the sprayers existing individual nozzle control to spot spray the weeds
- use real-time photo recognition to identify weeds
- switch individual spray nozzles on and off independently to spot spray
- have a minimum 24m working width
- must be capable of being retro fitted to existing sprayers.
Funding is not available under this item for converting sprayers to individual nozzle control. Systems that do not control individual spray nozzles are not eligible under this item.
FETF422 - Tractor powered electric desiccator for weed and plant control
Expected average cost of item £89,500
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
FETF402 - Tractor mounted sensor for precision orchard management
Expected average cost of item £21,500
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
FETF405 - Drone for applying authorised products
Expected average cost of item £36,190
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
- Only for applying agricultural and horticultural products that are authorised for application by drone – such as whitewash to glasshouses, fertiliser or seed.
- The grant is NOT available for drones for which the purpose is to apply regulated substances such as pesticides, insecticides, fungicides or herbicides.
FETF5 – Intra-row weeders minimum 1.8m
Expected average cost of item £60,348
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
- Minimum 1.8m working width
- Must be able to automatically distinguish between the crop plants and weeds in the crop row using camera recognition
- Remove weeds from between individual plants in the row, not just between rows.
FETF6 – Inter-row hoe 3m
Expected average cost of item £18,030
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
- Minimum 3m working width
- Able to automatically distinguish between the crop row and weeds between the crop rows using camera recognition
- Detect the position of the crop rows and automatically adjust the hoes to only remove weeds between the crop rows
FETF7 – Inter-row hoe 6m
Expected average cost of item £50,786
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
- Minimum 6m working width
- Able to automatically distinguish between the crop row and weeds between the crop rows using camera recognition
- Detect the position of the crop rows and automatically adjust the hoes to only remove weeds between the crop rows.
FETF218 - Robotic drill and guided hoe
Expected average cost of item £62,566
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
- Must be able to autonomously drill and hoe in the field without an operator (apart from refilling the seed hopper)
- Precisely place seed in the ground
- Mechanically weed between drilled rows and between plants in rows.
