Your Guide to FETF 2026: What you need to know
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2026 is now open, giving farmers across UK the opportunity to secure funding productivity-driven machinery. If you are planning to upgrade your drilling system, stubble rakes or air seeders, or invest in advanced direct drilling technology, this is the right time to act.
The Direct Drill Grant under FETF supports equipment that improves efficiency, reduces soil disturbance and promotes sustainable farming practices. With rising input costs and increasing pressure to farm smarter, this funding can help you future-proof your operation.
Claydon Drill offers industry-leading direct drill solutions designed to enhance crop establishment, improve soil health and reduce operational costs. Our equipment aligns perfectly with FETF objectives, helping UK farmers maximise output while protecting long-term soil performance.
If you are a UK farmer looking to invest in reliable, high-performance direct drilling technology, the 2026 FETF grant could significantly reduce your upfront costs. Now is the time to review your eligibility and prepare your application.
FETF 2026 Direct Drill Grant (FETF44) — and why you might not want to wait
A grant can reduce the cost of a direct drill — but, aside from a FETF Grant, the agronomic and economic benefits of Claydon one-pass drilling can start immediately if you go ahead and get a Claydon drill on farm now – call us now on 01440 820327 for availability.
FETF 2026 snapshot
- Available in UK
- Applications open: 17 March 2026
- Applications close: midday 28 April 2026
- Item: FETF44 – Direct drill (Productivity). Max grant amount (for one item): £15,067 *
- Item: FETF208 – Tractor mounted stubble rake. Max grant amount (for one item): (£6,720*
- Item: FETF207– Air drill for establishing cover crops. Max grant amount (for one item): (£1,575*
- Important: You generally must not order/buy grant-funded equipment until you receive a Grant Funding Agreement (GFA). A refundable deposit may be allowed under scheme rules (see FAQs).
The path ahead: two options to fit your season
Option A — Go for the grant
We’ll help you get application-ready.
- Confirm the machinery specification you plan to buy aligns with the FETF requirements
- Provide a grant-ready quote and supporting product details
Talk through timescales and next steps
Option B — Start your benefits right now
Why wait to unlock your direct drilling benefits?
Direct drilling can deliver value immediately through:
- fewer passes and less time in the seat
- labour and fuel savings from a one-pass approach
- improved timeliness (when weather windows are tight)
- more resilient crops through moisture retention in dry periods
- more resilient crops through better drainage in wet periods
What does waiting cost in your system?
If a grant decision for direct drills takes weeks or months, the real question is:
How much do extra passes, labour hours, fuel and delayed drilling cost your farm during that time?
In a 10-minute call, we’ll estimate your “cost of waiting” using:
- hectares planned
- typical passes you’d remove
- labour rate + fuel use
- your likely drilling windows
Why Claydon? Ask our customers!
Claydon drills are built to deliver a practical one-pass establishment system with strong field efficiency and low maintenance costs:
You may find our THINK booklet useful if you are rethinking your establishment system. It comes in a handy pocket size and is packed with interesting info and confidence boosting views from our customers on all the benefits they have found since changing to Claydon. To receive your free digital copy of our THINK booklet, sign up to our email updates by emailing marketing@claydondrill.com
FAQs
FETF 2026 includes an item called FETF44 – Direct drill, which Claydon Direct drills would be eligible for when meeting the scheme’s specification and the applicant meeting scheme rules. We’ll help you check the spec and provide a quote in the right format.
The application window is 17 March 2026 to midday 28 April 2026.
The guidance shows a 50% grant rate for FETF44 and lists a grant amount of £15,067 for one item (based on the scheme’s expected average cost). Your actual outcome depends on scheme rules, scoring and eligibility.
Typically, no — scheme rules say you generally must not buy/order before receiving your Grant Funding Agreement (GFA).
Scheme guidance allows a refundable deposit route under specific conditions (including limits on the deposit amount and timing). If you want to keep your grant option open while securing availability, ask us — we’ll explain how to do this in a grant-compliant way.
That’s common. Many farms choose to move now to capture one-pass benefits immediately (labour, fuel, timeliness). We can also discuss finance options and delivery timing.
Grant information is based on published UK Government guidance for FETF 2026. Grant funding is not guaranteed and is subject to scheme rules, eligibility and approval. Always follow the latest official guidance. Claydon can support with product information and quoting but cannot influence funding decisions.