FETF 2026 Opens the Door to 40% Funding for Advanced Grain Monitoring and Sampling

Eligible farmers and contractors in England can now upgrade their grain monitoring and sampling technology with substantial government backing under the ‘Productivity’ theme.

Starting 17 March 2026, farmers in England can apply for a grant of up to 40% towards the purchase of a CROVER System through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).

The FETF 2026 Grant: What You Need to Know

According to the recently published DEFRA Farming Blog guidance, this initiative is designed to boost efficiency and sustainability.

The scheme offers three grants, each ranging from £1,000 to £25,000, to assist English farmers, horticulturalists, and forestry owners in acquiring new equipment or technology.

The CROVER Basic and CROVER Pro fall under the ‘Improve Productivity’ theme of the FETF.

• Category: FETF601 - Autonomous grain monitoring robot
• Funding Available: Up to £9,600 towards the cost of a CROVERBasic or CROVERPro
• Coverage: Up to 40% of the equipment cost
• Opening Date: 17 March, 2026
• Closing Date: 28 April, 2026 (Midday)

The Eligibility Checklist: How CROVER Qualifies

The government has published strict technical rules on the FETF Productivity Items and Specifications page. 

Here is how CROVER explicitly answers every mandatory requirement for grain monitoring robotics, under category ‘FETF601 - Autonomous grain monitoring robot’:

☑️ Must provide real-time sub-surface monitoring of the stored crop

• CROVER operates as an omnidirectional system. It traverses directly on and within your grain bulk, providing a clear live camera feed straight to the CROVER Local Control App.

☑️ Must monitor temperature, moisture, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels sub-surface

• Using its dedicated Sensing Module, the system accurately monitors and logs grain temperature, moisture, and CO₂ levels directly to the CROVER Local Control App.

☑️ Must freely traverse stored grain while taking sub-surface samples. Permanently mounted systems which use fixed monitoring points are not eligible

• The robot freely navigates the grain using its specialized pontoon wheels and utilizes an integrated Sampling Module capable of safely retrieving physical grain samples.
  
  

☑️ Systems which do not take sub surface samples not eligible

• The CROVERPro package comes with both monitoring and sampling modules, adding the ability to collect physical samples at depth, up to 12 litres.

The CROVER System is currently the only product in the market that meets or exceeds these exact grant specifications under FEFT category ‘FETF601 - Autonomous grain monitoring robot’.

How to Apply and Claim Your 40%

As outlined on the official GOV.UK application page, "To access this funding, you must apply for the FETF 2026 using the Farming Investment Fund service."

Ensure you follow this timeline carefully before the window closes:

1. Register with the RPA: You must be registered with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to get your Single Business Identifier (SBI) number.
2. Submit Your Application Online: Starting 17 March, navigate to the portal: https://rpagrants.defra.gov.uk/welcome/. Select the FETF 2026 "Productivity" theme and apply using the item code FETF601.
3. Meet the Deadline: Applications strictly close at Midday on 28 April 2026.
4. Prepare Your Claim Details: Provide your CROVER’s serial number when you submit your claim for payment. When you receive your CROVER, we will provide a full record of your credentials, including your specific Serial Number, which you will easily find in your handover documentation to ensure your payment claim goes through without a hitch.

Don't leave your funding to the last minute.

Contact our team today to secure your quote and get the precise technical details needed for a bulletproof FETF601 application!