The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is the predominant environmental scheme offering a reliable income to farmers to support food production and the environment as they transition to the end of the Basic Payment Scheme.

To be eligible for the scheme, you must have management control of the land for the three-year duration of the agreement. There is no minimum or maximum area of land that must be entered into the scheme.

There are currently 23 actions available in the scheme with payments ranging from £45 per hectare to £853 per hectare.  These actions all contribute to the following:

• Soil health
• Moorland management
• Hedgerow management
• Integrated pest management
• Nutrient management
• Arable and horticultural land
• Improved grassland
• Low input grassland

There is a rolling application window for entering into the scheme, with agreements to commence the month preceding an approved application.  Annual payments will be received quarterly, including a £40 per hectare management payment (capped at £2,000) offered to those entering into their first SFI agreement.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have since announced that in Summer 2024, a further 50 actions will become available under the scheme with many replacing those seen under Countryside Stewardship.  Examples include:

• Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm or forestry buildings
• Stone wall maintenance
• Creation and management of species rich grassland
• Whole crop cereals
• Over winter stubble

To find out more information about the scheme and the new actions that will be available later in the year, please do not hesitate to contact me or your local Armitstead Barnett office.