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What did FETF 2026 actually fund?
FETF 2026 was the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund — a government capital grant scheme offering fixed-rate contributions on a published list of eligible items. The 2026 round had three themes (Productivity, Slurry, and Animal Health & Welfare), each capped at £25,000 per applicant. The window opened in spring 2026 and closed 28 May 2026.
FETF works differently to the Slurry Infrastructure Grant (SIG). FETF funds discrete equipment items at fixed rates — applicants pick from the eligible items list, receive the published grant amount per unit and pay the difference. SIG funds bespoke slurry infrastructure projects with site-specific design and much higher individual caps.
Many farmers combined FETF and SIG in 2026 — using SIG for the main slurry store build and FETF for ancillary items like channel covers, dirty water tanks and slurry separators. The combination was the most efficient route to a fully-funded slurry upgrade.
Which WCCP products were on the FETF 2026 eligible items list?
Across the Slurry and Productivity themes, several WCCP-supplied items were eligible: slurry channel covers, covered slurry storage, dirty water tanks, milking robot bases and cattle handling kit. Each had a published reference cost and grant rate in the FETF 2026 manual, and applicants were free to choose any approved supplier.
| FETF item | Theme | WCCP product |
|---|---|---|
| Slurry channel covers | Slurry | Precast cover slabs |
| Slurry tank cover (rigid) | Slurry | Precast tank cover panels |
| Dirty water tank, 50m³ (1,766 cu ft) | Slurry | Sectional precast tank |
| Milking robot base | Productivity | Precast robot base + plinth |
| Cattle handling crush base | Productivity | Precast handling slabs |
| Covered yard precast slabs | Slurry | Precast slatted floors |
Item and theme mapping from the published FETF 2026 manual. Grant value per item was set by the published reference cost, which we don't reproduce here — check the current FETF manual (or ask us) for the figure that applied to your item code.
See the live WCCP product pages that map to these FETF item codes: slurry storage, milking robot bases, slurry channels & covers, cattle cubicles, and the full agricultural range.
What were the grant rates and caps?
Standard items were funded at 50% of published reference cost. Items categorised as innovative or low-uptake received 60%. Maximum grant per applicant per theme was £25,000. An applicant could draw across all three themes for a maximum total of around £75,000 — though most farms used Slurry only.
Reference costs were published per item, not per supplier. If the actual installed cost was below the reference cost, the grant was 50% (or 60%) of the actual. If above, the grant was capped at the reference rate — applicants paid the difference.
Minimum grant value per application was £1,000. That ruled out single-item applications for small purchases. Most applicants bundled multiple items (e.g. tank cover + channel cover + dirty water tank) into one Slurry-theme application.
How did the Productivity and Slurry themes break down?
The Slurry theme funded items that reduced ammonia or methane emissions — covers, separators, low-emission spreading kit, dirty water tanks and ancillary infrastructure. The Productivity theme funded items that improved on-farm efficiency — cattle handling, robotic milking infrastructure, weighing kit and ventilation upgrades.
For WCCP customers the Slurry theme dominated. Covering an existing slurry store with rigid precast panels was a high-impact intervention: it cut ammonia emissions by around 60–70%, reduced rainwater dilution and met Clean Air Strategy 2024 commitments. FETF funded these covers at a published reference rate per square metre — ask us for the current figure and how it compares to a supplied cost.
The Productivity theme picked up milking robot bases (we supply DeLaval VMS and Lely Astronaut base packages with cable trays cast in) and cattle handling slabs. Both were specified at standard rates and rarely contested.
What were the common FETF 2026 application mistakes?
Top five: missing the 28 May 2026 deadline; applying for items that weren't on the eligible list; assuming the published reference cost matched the supplied cost; forgetting to retain quotes and invoices for claim stage; and not installing within the 12-month grant window.
- Late application. The window was firm. It was published months in advance — applicants who waited until May missed out.
- Ineligible items. Only items on the published list qualified. "Equivalent" alternatives didn't, however good the engineering case was.
- Reference cost confusion. Reference cost was the scheme's number for grant calculation, not the market price. Applicants had to budget for the gap.
- Documentation gaps. Quotes, invoices, photos and supplier details all had to be retained for claim. Missing one delayed payment by months.
- Install delays. Items had to be installed and claimed within the grant window. Late deliveries forfeited the grant.
FETF 2027 prep checklist (6 steps)
FETF 2027 is expected to launch in spring 2027 with similar themes and structure. Use the closed window now to prepare so that, when the FETF 2027 manual is published, you can apply on day one. Six steps cover the bulk of the preparation.
- Sign up to grant alerts. The FETF manual is published 6–8 weeks before the application window. Alerts are free at gov.uk.
- Identify your priority items. Walk the yard with the FETF 2026 eligible list — most items will reappear. Note dimensions, quantities and rough budgets.
- Get quotes ready. Suppliers (us included) will quote against expected grant items. A quote in your file is half the application done.
- Confirm holding/business numbers. Single Business Identifier (SBI) and County Parish Holding (CPH) numbers must be live and current.
- Plan installation timing. FETF allows ~12 months from approval to claim. Don't apply for items that can't be in the ground within that window.
- Combine with SIG where applicable. Big slurry projects benefit from SIG + FETF stacking. Plan the architecture before the windows open.
Frequently asked questions
What was FETF 2026?
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2026 was a grant scheme offering 50–60% funding (capped at £25,000 per applicant per theme) for eligible items in productivity, slurry, animal health and welfare themes. Applications opened in spring 2026 and closed on 28 May 2026.
Did the FETF 2026 window close?
Yes — FETF 2026 closed on 28 May 2026. Successful applicants were notified through summer 2026 and had until early 2027 to claim. FETF 2027 is expected to follow a similar structure; we recommend preparing now if you missed this round.
Which WCCP products were on the FETF 2026 eligible items list?
Several. Slurry separation, covered slurry storage, slurry channel covers and dirty water tanks were all on the Slurry theme list. Cattle handling and milking robot bases featured under Productivity. Each item had a fixed grant rate published in the FETF 2026 manual.
How much funding could I get on a slurry store under FETF 2026?
FETF 2026 typically funded 50–60% of the published reference cost for each eligible item, with a £25,000 cap per applicant within the Slurry theme. For larger slurry storage projects, applicants combined FETF with the Slurry Infrastructure Grant (SIG), which is a separate, larger scheme.
What is the difference between FETF and SIG?
FETF funds discrete equipment items (tank covers, separators, scrapers) at standard rates with a £25,000 cap per theme. SIG funds whole slurry infrastructure projects (new stores, store extensions) at higher caps (£250,000+) with site-specific design and a more involved application.
Will FETF 2027 happen?
Continued funding is expected under the SFI/Capital Grants framework, with FETF expected to return in 2027 in similar form. Eligible items may shift slightly. We recommend signing up for the grant alert service and preparing your applicant evidence early.
What were the most common FETF 2026 application mistakes?
In order: missing the deadline, applying for ineligible items, not reading the published reference costs (overspending the difference unfunded), missing supplier quotes, and forgetting that FETF requires the item to be installed and claimed within the grant window — usually 12 months.
Preparing for FETF 2027 or SIG 2026?
We have a grant-aware quote pack ready for slurry covers, channel slabs, dirty water tanks and robot bases. Tell us what you're planning and we'll spec to FETF reference items where possible.