Making the most of machinery and tech grants at Midlands Machinery Show

With a plethora of machinery, technology and productivity grants expected to re-open in December 2023/January 2024, the Midlands Machinery Show on 8th-9th November is well timed for farmers looking to make the most of these.

Our team are on hand at the show to give advice about the various grants likely to be available. Tom Cheer, Agricultural Business Consultant based in our Lincoln office looks at the options.

"The main grant relevant to the show is the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) Productivity and Slurry grant, which is very similar to the old Countryside Productivity Small Grants scheme and aims to improve productivity and efficiency on farm. Applications are online, selecting items from an eligible list and getting paid a fixed amount of grant no matter how much is spent on the item," explains Mr Cheer. FETF has had two rounds so far and is expected to open for a third in December 2023/January 2024. Direct drills, camera guided equipment, liquid fertiliser applicators and small seed drills for cover and/or companion crops. Some that have proved popular will be on display at the Midlands Machinery Show, including from KRM, Grange Machinery, Sands Agricultural Machinery, Househam sprayers and Knight sprayers.

“For a 6m direct drill in round two, the amount of grant awarded was £18,720; if it was capable of applying fertiliser simultaneously it was £25,000, says Mr Cheer. "For N-Sensors it was £6,675 and for camera-guided inter-row vegetable weeders, a 6m machine attracted £22,745."

The grant helps farmers to access more technical machinery at a lower cost, says KRM managing director Mike Britton. "KRM machinery’s tine drill SMP model will be on display at the Midlands Machinery Show and has so far been eligible for the FETF grant. It promotes regenerative farming, moving the soil less, leading to less release of carbon.

"The grant has also covered KRM Calibrators – control systems for fertiliser spreading and variable rate application, and KRM Patchwork GPS section control. Both are driving efficiency, meaning farmers use less fertiliser on the field, and less fertiliser is wasted through run-off, with environmental benefits."

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