New Farm Grants Announced After NFU Conference

These schemes form part of the government’s wider agricultural transition programme and aim to support productivity, sustainability and collaboration across the farming sector.

Below we outline three key funding opportunities that farming businesses may wish to consider over the coming months.

Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – Changes for 2026

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will reopen in 2026 with a revised structure designed to simplify the scheme and provide greater clarity for applicants.

The updated scheme will include 71 actions, reduced from the previous offer. While most payment rates remain unchanged, three actions have seen reduced payments, including herbal leys, winter bird food and legume fallow options.

Two application windows are planned for 2026:

• Window 1 – June 2026: Open to smaller farms (up to 50 hectares) and those without an existing Environmental Land Management revenue agreement
• Window 2 – September 2026: Open to all eligible farms

There will also be a £100,000 cap per agreement, although the government expects around 97% of current participants to remain below this level.

The SFI continues to support farmers who adopt environmentally beneficial practices while maintaining productive farming systems. The scheme is expected to provide greater transparency around budgets and application windows following the sudden closure of earlier SFI rounds.

Further guidance on the scheme can be found here: Sustainable Farming Incentive guidance for applicants

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF)

A new round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund will open on 17 March 2026, with £50 million of funding available to support investment in farm technology and equipment.

The scheme aims to improve productivity and animal welfare while helping farmers manage slurry and environmental impacts.

Funding will be available across three themes:

• Farm productivity
• Animal health and welfare
• Slurry management

Grants range from £1,000 to £25,000 per theme, and businesses may apply across multiple themes up to a combined total of £75,000.

The application window will run for six weeks, closing on 27 April 2026.

Importantly, Defra has indicated that this will be the final round of the scheme in its current format, with elements expected to be incorporated into a new support programme from 2027.

Application guidance and details are available here: Apply for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2026

Farming Collaboration Fund

A new £30 million Farming Collaboration Fund has also been announced to support farmers working together to grow their businesses, develop partnerships and share knowledge.

The government is currently developing the fund and is holding a series of regional workshops across England between 11 March and 14 April to gather feedback from farmers and land managers.

These sessions will help shape the design of the scheme and determine how funding will support collaborative projects across the agricultural sector. To find and register to attend a regional workshop, click here.

Details on how the fund will operate and how to apply are expected later this year.

What This Means for Farming Businesses

These funding opportunities provide valuable support for farms looking to:

• Invest in equipment and technology
• Improve environmental land management
• Work collaboratively with other farming businesses
• Strengthen productivity and resilience

With application windows opening over the coming months, now may be a good time for farming businesses to review their plans and consider how these schemes could support their wider business strategy.

How We Can Help

We work with farming businesses across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire to help them plan for the future. If you are considering applying for a grant or would like advice on how funding could fit within your wider farm business strategy, our agricultural specialists would be happy to help. Get in touch: agriculture@forrester-boyd.co.uk