The year 2026 brings tangible changes to the support system for farmers. Some investment programs known from previous years have dropped out of the schedule, but available grants still offer real funds—both for ongoing operations and modernization of technical equipment. If you run an agricultural business or are planning to enter this sector, it is worth checking now which application rounds will be open and under what conditions.
This article is based on the current schedule of ARiMR within the Strategic CAP Plan 2023–2027. Here you will find dates, grant amounts, eligibility criteria, and practical tips for submitting applications—everything you need to get ready in time.
What will you learn from this article?
- What ARiMR calls await in 2026?
- Which grants will not be available in 2026?
- How much is the grant for young farmers?
- What do welfare, RES, and biosecurity finance?
- How to submit an application step by step?
- How to increase your chances for a grant?
ARiMR application schedule for 2026
The Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture has scheduled eight main application windows for 2026—from March to November. Applications are conducted under the Strategic CAP Plan 2023–2027, and each program is targeted at a different group of beneficiaries. Below is the current schedule of application calls with the maximum funding amounts—a summary you won’t find collected in one place elsewhere.
| Program | Application period | Max. amount / refund |
|---|---|---|
| Direct payments, eco-schemes, LFA | March 15 – May 15, 2026 | 494–2,387 PLN/ha |
| Young farmer grants | June 1 – July 31, 2026 | up to 300,000 PLN (non-repayable) |
| Large processing and marketing | September 1 – 30, 2026 | up to 10 million PLN (50% of costs) |
| Biosecurity and ASF | September 2 – October 1, 2026 | refund of eligible costs |
| Establishing producer organizations | September 24 – October 27, 2026 | — |
| Small processing and RHD | October 1 – November 2, 2026 | up to 500,000 PLN (60–70% of costs) |
| RES and energy efficiency | October 5 – November 3, 2026 | refund of eligible costs |
| Investments to improve animal welfare | October 7 – November 6, 2026 | up to 150,000 PLN (65% of costs) |
In addition to programs financed by EU funds, national aid programs continue: subsidies for seed material (May 25 – July 10, 2026), support for beekeepers (May 1–31), and aid for bull breeders (January). These are additional forms of support, which can often be combined with CAP application rounds.
The ARiMR application schedule may be supplemented during the year—the agency reserves this right. Ongoing updates can be found on the arimr websites.
Which grants will not be available in 2026?
Analysis of the schedule clearly shows that in 2026, three popular investment programs will not be launched. For many farms, this means the need to change plans—especially those focused on purchasing machinery and technical modernization.
- Investments increasing farm competitiveness – the program covered a wide range of actions: purchase of agricultural machinery, production technologies, modernization of facilities. In 2026, it will not be included in ARiMR application calls.
- Investments for environmental and climate protection – a popular intervention, enabling funding of machinery that reduces emissions and increases agricultural production efficiency. Applications submitted in 2024 are still being processed (the program’s budget was recently increased), but there will be no new call in 2026.
- Development of small farms – lump-sum grants up to 120,000 PLN aimed at smaller entities. It was not included in the 2026 schedule.
What does this mean for farmers planning investments? The need to look more broadly at available funding routes. Alternative sources include, among others: Local Action Group (LAG) programs, preferential investment loans (including ASF support), and financial instruments offered under CAP. The availability of these tools varies regionally—it is worth checking the offer in your region.
Young farmer grant – up to 300,000 PLN
This is the most important and most flexible program available in 2026. Young farmer grants are awarded as a non-repayable lump sum for farm development—and can be used for a very wide range of purposes, from the purchase of machinery to construction investments. The call is scheduled from June 1 to July 31, 2026.
Who can apply for the grant?
The eligibility criteria are precisely defined. In order to apply for the grant, a farmer must meet all the following criteria:
- Age under 41 at the time of application
- No previous support awarded as a young farmer under RDP or CAP
- Minimum standard output value (SO) – 13,000 euros
- Mandatory business plan assuming an economic growth of the farm by at least 20%
- Running agricultural activity for at least 12 months prior to application
- Having a registration number in ARiMR and at least 1 ha of agricultural land
The total program budget is approx. 647.5 million PLN. According to available information, this could be the last call in this financial perspective—funds are running out and there is no certainty about continuation after 2026. If you meet the criteria, it’s worth acting promptly.
The funds can be used, among others, for the purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment, modernization of equipment, construction investments related to running agricultural activities, as well as the implementation of new production technologies. In practice, this is the only broad investment path for individual farming in 2026.
How is the application scored?
Applications are scored—funds go to those who exceed the minimum threshold. The chances of receiving a grant increase if: the farmer has completed industry training (agricultural professional development), participates in agricultural product quality systems, belongs to a producer group, or holds a certificate in organic farming. Each of these elements boosts application ranking.
Welfare, RES, and biosecurity—what do they finance?
Three specialized programs open for applications in autumn 2026. Each addresses a different need—it’s worth checking which fits your farm’s profile and scale.
Investments to improve animal welfare
The program is aimed at cattle and pig farmers. The grant covers up to 65% of eligible costs, and the maximum support is 150,000 PLN. You can fund ventilation systems, livestock building equipment, watering and feeding systems, and other solutions improving animal husbandry conditions.
The call lasts from October 7 to November 6, 2026. It is one of the few interventions combining welfare with real funding for technical equipment—and one of the programs that have virtually not changed compared to previous schedules.
Investments in RES and energy efficiency
The program supports the modernization of energy infrastructure on farms. Possible measures include photovoltaic installations, energy storage, modernization of heating and ventilation systems. The call is scheduled for October 5 – November 3, 2026.
This is a particularly interesting option for farms focused on reducing operating costs, as well as for those engaged in organic farming. Investments in RES can also positively impact scoring in subsequent calls.
Biosecurity and ASF
Call from September 2 to October 1, 2026—targeted at farms keeping pigs and other animals exposed to epidemiological risks. It funds fences, disinfection sluices, disinfection equipment, and other solutions reducing the risk of contact with the external environment. The program is not a typical investment support, but in the ASF threat environment—it is a crucial element of farm management.
How to submit an application step by step?
All grant applications are submitted electronically—via the eWniosekPlus application available on the ARiMR platform. Below is a simplified process for most programs.
- Check your registration number in ARiMR – this is a necessary condition. If you don’t have a number, apply for one before the call opens.
- Log in to eWniosekPlus – the application is available through a browser. Trusted profile or e-ID makes logging in easier.
- Draw parcels and mark crops – for direct payments and eco-schemes, it is necessary to precisely designate land on an interactive map.
- Attach required documents – for young farmer grants a business plan is necessary. For welfare—a breeding documentation and investment cost estimate. Check the list of required documents for each program.
- Submit your application before the deadline – for each working day of delay, due payments will be reduced by 1%. It is worth having a reserve of at least a few business days.
Formal errors are one of the most common reasons for a grant application to be downgraded or rejected. It is worth consulting the documentation at the Agricultural Advisory Centre (ODR) or directly at the ARiMR office—consultations are free of charge. Consulting companies (e.g. PAPFU) can help optimize the application in terms of scoring systems.
If there are co-owners of the agricultural property, written consent from all parties is required—and you need to ensure that none of the co-owners is simultaneously applying for the same funding under another action.
How to increase your chances of getting a grant?
Most ARiMR calls operate on a scoring system—applications are ranked, and funds are awarded according to the ranking. By knowing the evaluation criteria, you can consciously increase your application’s score even before submitting it.
What actually increases your chances of getting support:
- Professional development for farmers – completed industry training (including module 2 of profiled training) is scored in most interventions
- Participation in agricultural product quality schemes – e.g. integrated production, organic farming, industry certificates
- Belonging to producer groups or industry organizations—influences the assessment of sustainable business conduct capacity
- Location in LFA areas or priority zones for a given program—some calls favor regions with difficult production conditions
- Having a sustainable production plan or experience with ecological systems
For context: average direct payments in Poland are about 246 euros/ha (data for 2023), and alignment to the EU average covers 97% of Polish farms—direct payments will gradually increase until the end of the 2027 perspective. That’s a good reason to ensure document completeness and avoid formal errors that reduce payouts.
If your farm is close to the points threshold, it’s worth using external consulting before submitting your application. A few extra points may decide whether the funds go to you or the next person on the ranking list.
Summary
2026 is a time of selective but real access to grants for farmers. Three key investment programs have been dropped from the schedule, but open calls offer tangible support—especially for young farmers, animal breeders, and farms investing in RES or energy efficiency.
The most important dates to remember in 2026:
- March 15 – start of the direct payments, eco-schemes, and LFA campaign (call until May 15, 2026)
- June 1 – call for the young farmer grant up to 300,000 PLN—probably the last in this financial perspective
- October–November – calls for animal welfare, RES, and small processing
The lack of key modernization programs means that good planning and a quick response to open calls will determine successful grant acquisition this year. It is worth preparing documents early—application windows are short and formal errors are costly.
Check announcements in the agricultural machinery category →
