Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26)

Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26) is sponsored by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

SFI26: scheme information now available – Farming https://defrafarming. blog. gov.uk/2026/06/02/sfi26-scheme-information-now-available/ Near-final scheme information for this year's Sustainable Farming Incentive offer (SFI26) is now available on GOV.UK.

We expect to open the first application window (“Window 1”) from 30 June 2026 for 2 groups: farms without an existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement Before we do this, we will invite a small number of farmers who are eligible for Window 1 to apply from around 18 June. This is to test and refine the application service in a controlled way, to make sure it’s working as expected before full rollout.

SFI supports sustainable food production alongside practical actions that improve soil health, protect water quality, support nature recovery and strengthen farm resilience. The scheme is designed to give you flexibility to choose actions that work for your land and farming system. The SFI26 offer is an iterated version of the 2024 scheme.

Most features remain the same, so it should look and feel familiar if you’ve applied before. We’ve made some improvements to simplify and streamline the offer.

The SFI26 scheme information published today includes near final versions of: the terms and conditions which apply to all SFI26 agreements the scheme rules, which explain the mandatory requirements set in the SFI26 terms and conditions the requirements for each SFI26 action which are available on the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ tool on GOV.UK (or the HTML print version) – this means you can now review the actions available and consider which may work for your farm business guidance to help you apply for, and manage, your SFI26 agreement We’re publishing this as near final versions to allow for final checks.

We intend to publish final versions around mid-June before applications open. If you qualify as a small farm, you may find it helpful to view the map of popular SFI actions by region . This shows the most common actions chosen by mixed/arable and grassland farms up to 50 hectares already in SFI agreements.

A second application window (“Window 2”) will open in September 2026 for all farmers and land managers. You can find the steps you can take to get ready to apply in the SFI26 scheme information we’ve published today.

SFI actions: reducing reliance on fertilisers Given the current pressure of rising fertiliser costs and the impact they are having on farm businesses and on-farm decisions, we’re highlighting a range of SFI actions that can help reduce reliance on artificial fertilisers. Variable rate application of nutrients Using precision farming equipment to apply all major nutrients reduces the over application of nutrients.

Multispecies winter cover crops A non-cash crop grown primarily to improve soil health and fertility and help prevent soil erosion. Multispecies summer-sown cover crop This will improve soil health, manage weeds and build soil fertility in subsequent crops. Legumes on improved grassland Legumes on improved grassland help manage nutrient efficiency without the use of inorganic fertilisers.

Planting a mixture of grasses, legumes and herbs or wildflowers produces a high volume of forage with minimal use of inorganic fertiliser. Helps manage nutrient efficiency and improve soil health without the use of inorganic fertilisers. Planting companion crops with a main arable or horticultural crop can better manage nutrient efficiency.

We’ve put together a leaflet to help you understand the Sustainable Farming Incentive and how to get started – download it. We’re also holding a series of events across the country throughout June to talk through SFI26 and answer your questions. You can find upcoming events and register on our Eventbrite page.

Tags: Agriculture , ELM , Environmental Land Management , farm business , farm funding , farmers , farmers in England , Farming , SFI26 , small farms , Soil health , sustainable farming , Sustainable Farming Incentive Would Defra consider issuing sketches/diagrams to illustrate actions such as CAHL4, CIGLL3, BFS1, BFS6, CIGL1 and CIPM2 so to help illustrate how these can be applied.

They say a picture paints a thousand words so these may hep clarify the text within the scheme rules and guidance. Replies to Paul Thistlewood> Thanks for getting in touch and for the suggestion. We appreciate that diagrams and visual examples can help bring some of the actions to life and make the guidance easier to interpret.

We’ve passed on your feedback on to our policy, communications and content colleagues for consideration. Can i apply for SFI even though i have a CS mid tier that ends in January 27. Replies to Jonathan Powner> The first SFI26 application window is open to 2 groups: small farms and farms without an existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement.

As you already have a CS Mid Tier agreement, you would not be eligible under the second group. However, you may be able to apply in the first window if you meet the definition of a small farm. For SFI26, a small farm is one that has 50 hectares or less of eligible agricultural land.

If you do not meet this definition, you will be eligible to apply in Window 2, which is open to all other farms. Here's a link to the SFI26 scheme information: https://www. gov.uk/government/publications/sustainable-farming-incentive-2026-sfi26 The link for SCR2: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics (updated for SFI26) isn't working Thank you for getting in touch.

The link seems to be working now, try this: https://www. gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/scr2-manage-scrub-and-open-habitat-mosaics Thanks, mysteriously it's still broken on mozilla, but works on bing... thank you for this , very helpful for the sfi26 application Thanks for finally publishing info.

I have a question about the new 'Manage Ponds' action: Is the maximum eligibility of 3 ponds/Ha measured on a field or farm basis? Thank you for getting in touch. The maximum 3 ponds per hectare limit is applied across each land parcel you select for this action: https://www.

gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/wbd1-manage-ponds In Annex A of the SFI26 guidance ( https://www. gov.uk/government/publications/sustainable-farming-incentive-2026-sfi26/sfi26-scheme-rules-and-guidance#annex-a ) the payment rate for CAHL2 is £648 per hectare however in the action page ( https://www. gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cahl2-winter-bird-food-on-arable-and-horticultural-land ) says £853 per hectare.

Can you confirm the payment rate please. Note, the same is also true of CNUM3, guidance says £532, action page £593. Many thanks for your feedback.

We can confirm that the payment rates for CAHL2 and CNUM3 have been updated in both the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ tool and the HTML print version (which includes all 71 actions). The correct payment rates are £648 per hectare for CAHL2 and £532 per hectare for CNUM3. How do I get chosen for the June 16 window?

I have not applied before and have 8hectares. CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (updated for SFI26) link is not working Thank you for flagging. Try this link: https://www.

gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/clig3-manage-grassland-with-very-low-nutrient-inputs We only ask for your email address so we know you're a real person Email me if someone replies to my comment By submitting a comment you understand it may be published on this public website. Please read our privacy notice to see how the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information.

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