KUHN machines available for latest FETF grant funding

Three ‘themes’ are available for funding applications – Productivity, Slurry Management, and Animal Health and Welfare. In the Productivity theme, KUHN’s Rowliner with Rowlink camera guidance, and a choice of three KUHN SH small seed hoppers – SH402, SH4080, SH600 – meet the conditions for applications. 

Grants between £1,000 and £25,000 are available for single items within each theme and the government says that £46.7m will be offered across the fund in a competitive process.
 

More detail on the KUHN machines available and the eligibility criteria.

Grant funding code: FETF7 – Inter-row hoe 6m

• KUHN machine: Rowliner with Rowlink camera guidance
   
  • KUHN’s Rowliner interrow hoe with Rowlink camera guidance linkage can distinguish between the crop and weeds between the rows using camera recognition. 
  • It detects the position of the neighbouring rows and only hoes the weeds in-between these, avoiding damage to the planted crop. 
  • Machines in the funding must be a minimum of 6m working width to comply. 

Expected average cost of the item: £50,786
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
Grant amount (capped based on 1 machine): £25,000 
 

Grant funding code: FETF207 – air drill for establishing cover crops

• KUHN machines: SH402, SH4080 and SH600
   
  • KUHN’s small seed air drills can be fitted to various KUHN cultivators and drills, but also to models made by other manufacturers. The SH402, SH4080 and largest SH600 are all compatible in the grant funding item. 
  • All have electronic metering and can sow small cover crops seed such as mustard, clover or phacelia using either pipes, spreader plates or coulters to place the seed. 
  • The three KUHN hoppers have a capacity of 300-litres or larger and can supply a drilling width of 3m or wider.

Expected average cost of the item: £3,150
Percentage paid towards item: 50%
Grant amount (based on 1 machine): £1,575 

Both the SH hoppers and Rowliner with Rowlink are innovative machines and grant funding allows farmers access to these machines where it may not have been before. 

Grant funding code: FETF200 – tractor mounted flail mulcher for orchard and vineyards

• KUHN machines: BV 180 / BV 200, BV 220, BV 240, BVR 180 / BVR 200, BV 1800 / BV 2000 / BV 2200 / BV 2400, BVR 1800 / BVR 2000 / BVR 2200, TRP 175, TRP 175 RT/CV
  • KUHN machines listed above are all PTO driven and mount to the tractor via the three-point linkage. These can be used in orchard and vineyards for track maintenance between vines and on general areas to speed up mulching and remove pest and disease damage.
  • The machine is required to handle branches up to 6cm in diameter, allowing prunings to be mulched back into the soil as organic matter to aid soil nutrition and structure.
  • Grant funding requirements state that machines need to be a minimum of 1.6m working width, up to a maximum of 3m. Hydraulic offset is also available on several of the models.
  • KUHN’s hedgecutter range isn’t applicable. 

Expected average cost of the item: £2,400 (Varies considerably due to spec)
Percentage paid towards item: 40%
Grant amount (based on 1 machine): £960 

The range of flail mulchers allow users to upgrade outdated machinery and benefit from improved efficiencies by operating modern KUHN implements.

Successful applications will benefit from financial support towards purchasing a machine that can improve efficiencies, increase productivity, or allow greater flexibility.

Applications for the FETF 2025 grant open on Thursday 29 May and will close at midday on 10 July 2025.