Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme Northern Ireland

The Sustainable Farming Investment Scheme (SFIS) is a grant scheme from DAERA that helps eligible farmers in Northern Ireland invest in equipment and technology that improves animal health, environmental performance, and farm efficiency. Grant funding is available at a rate of 40% of eligible investment costs.

You may be eligible if you:

• Farm in Northern Ireland
• Are a primary food producer in the livestock, arable, or horticulture sector
• Have a Category 1 Farm Business ID
• Plan to invest in equipment listed on the official DAERA eligible items list
• Meet the minimum investment requirements of the scheme

The scheme provides funding of up to 40% of eligible investment costs. The maximum grant available is £25,000 per farm business, with eligible investments ranging from £3,000 to £62,500.

No. Unlike some previous grant schemes, SFIS applications are based on DAERA reference prices. You do not need to obtain supplier quotations as part of your application.

The eligible equipment list includes a wide range of livestock handling and animal management technologies. Examples include:

• Sheep handling systems
• Automatic sheep weighing and drafting equipment
• Sheep handlers
• Cattle handling systems
• Cattle crushes
• Auto drafting and sorting gates
• EID readers
• Electronic weighing systems
• Automatic vaccination and dosing equipment

Eligibility is determined by the official DAERA eligible items list.

Many Te Pari sheep handling and animal management products align with equipment categories included on the SFIS eligible items list, including automatic weighing and drafting sheep crates, sheep handlers, EID systems, and fixed sheep handling systems. Grant amounts are based on DAERA reference prices for the relevant item category.

A number of Te Pari cattle handling products fit within SFIS livestock handling categories, including cattle crushes, cattle handling systems, electronic weighing equipment, EID readers, and automated drafting solutions. Eligibility depends on the item codes and specifications listed by DAERA.

The current application window opens on 21 July 2026 and closes on 3 September 2026. Applications must be submitted through the online DAERA scheme portal before the deadline.

Applications are submitted through DAERA's online scheme portal. Applicants will need a Government Gateway or nidirect account and will select the eligible items they wish to include in their application.

Not necessarily. Eligible items are assigned scores by DAERA based on the benefits they deliver. Applications are assessed using item scores, so understanding how equipment selections affect your overall application can be important.