This is a Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) action. Read the SFI26 scheme information to understand what you’re required to do under an SFI26 agreement and how to apply.
\n\nSelect ‘See all updates’ at the start of this page to find out how this action has changed for SFI26 compared with SFI24.
\n\nFor SFI24 actions, read the SFI24 agreement holder’s information.
\n3 years
\n\n£385 per hectare (ha) per year – the hectarage can include:
\n\nthe area used to grow agroforestry trees
\nthe areas between the trees, used for arable or horticultural crops, grassland or other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options
\nThis action’s aim is that there’s an established low density in-field agroforestry system that’s maintained, so there’s a combination of both:
\n\ntrees (including shrubs)
\narable or horticultural crops, grassland for forage or areas used for other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nreduce soil erosion and flooding
\nimprove water and air quality
\nprovide shelter for crops and livestock
\ncontribute to carbon capture and storage
\nYou can do this action on an eligible in-field agroforestry system on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:
\n\nland with a ‘low sensitivity to agroforestry’ – these are the blue areas on the Forestry Commission’s map
\nan eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
\nregistered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
\ndeclared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover
\nYou cannot do this action on land with a higher sensitivity to agroforestry (these are the white areas on the Forestry Commission’s map). This includes:
\n\nsites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) or other sensitive areas which are listed in the guidance on forestry environmental impact assessments (forestry EIA)
\npriority habitats such as species-rich grassland – you can find a list of priority habitats on GOV.UK
\nTo be eligible for this action, the in-field agroforestry system must contain established trees. They can be at any stage of maturity, including newly planted saplings if they’ll be left to become mature trees.
\n\nFruit trees must be grown on semi-vigorous or vigorous rootstocks. These will usually produce trees at least 4 metres (m) tall.
\n\nThe existing in-field agroforestry system must also be ‘very low density’. This means that across the area in each land parcel you enter into this action:
\n\nthere’s an average of 51 to 130 trees per ha, usually planted in rows or a grid
\nthe trees have been planted far enough apart to mean the potential tree canopy cover will be less than 20%, so a forestry EIA was not required – read the ‘advice to help you do this action’ for more information
\n| Eligible land type | \nEligible land cover | \nCompatible land use code | \n\n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arable land used to grow crops | \nArable land | \nLand use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops\n | \n\n |
| Temporary grassland | \nArable land | \nTG01 | \n\n |
| Arable land lying fallow | \nArable land | \nFA01 | \n\n |
| Improved permanent grassland | \nPermanent grassland | \nPG01 | \n\n |
| Permanent crops - horticultural | \nPermanent crops | \nTC01 | \n\n |
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter any area that’s designated as an SSSI into this action.
\n\nHistoric and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.
\n\nTotal or part of the available area in a land parcel. It’s your responsibility to check that the area you enter is eligible for this action.
\n\nYou must do this action on the area entered into your SFI26 agreement. If something happens which means you cannot complete this action on some or all of the area, you must tell the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) in writing as soon as possible. Read section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply with your agreement’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this.
\n\nThis action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
\n\nYou must maintain the low density in-field agroforestry system in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes:
\n\nreplacing dead trees, where necessary to make sure the density continues to be an average of at least 51 trees per ha across the area you enter into this action in each land parcel
\nprotecting the trees from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits, to prevent serious damage
\nmanaging weeds around the base of establishing trees
\npruning and shaping the trees once they are established
\nYou must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.
\n\nIt’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:
\n\nfollow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
\ndo the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
\nYou may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nYou must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:
\n\nfield operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
\nphotographs and other documentation
\nIf it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.
\n\nYou can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.
\n\n| Scheme | \nAction or option codes | \n\n |
|---|---|---|
| \nSFI 2026 actions | \nAHW10, AHW11, AHW3, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CLIG3, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3, WBD3, WBD4, WBD6, WBD7 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAHW1, AHW10, AHW11, AHW12, AHW3, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, BFS2, BFS3, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CLIG3, CNUM1, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3, HEF8, OFA1, OFA6, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4, WBD3, WBD4, WBD5, WBD6, WBD7, WBD8 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nAHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IGL1, IGL2, IGL3, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, NUM2, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAB10, CAB11, CAB14, CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CAB2, CAB6, CAB7, CGS21, CGS4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW13, CSW21, CSW23, CSW24, CSW7, CSW8, CWD3, CWS1, CWS3, CWT1, CWT2 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nAB1, AB10, AB11, AB14, AB15, AB16, AB2, AB3, AB6, AB7, AB8, AB9, GS2, GS3, GS4, GS5, HS6, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR1, OR3, OR4, OT1, OT3, OT4, SW1, SW10, SW13, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8, SW9, WD3, WT1, WT2 | \n\n |
| \nES options | \nNo ES revenue options | \n\n |
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.
\n\nYou can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:
\n\nThe following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nIf you have not already planted your agroforestry system, before you establish your trees and apply for this action you can plan:
\n\nYou may want to consider applying for the capital item to help you plan your agroforestry system (PA4). Read the guidance on funding and grants for agroforestry for more information.
\n\nThis action requires that the trees in your existing agroforestry system are spaced in a way that means you do not need to apply for a forestry EIA (under ‘Where you can do this action’).
\n\nA forestry EIA is required if you plant trees on 0.5ha or more agricultural land in a way which could create ‘woodland’. The UK Forestry Standard defines woodland as ‘land that is predominantly covered in trees, with a canopy cover of at least 20%’.
\n\nYou do not need to apply for a forestry EIA if you’ve planted the trees in your agroforestry system far enough apart, so the canopy cover is less than 20%. This will usually be the case if you’ve planted them in either:
\n\nRead the guidance on forestry EIAs for more information.
\n\nCheck if you need an agriculture EIA ‘screening decision’ from Natural England if how you’ll manage your agroforestry system will:
\n\nRead the guidance on agriculture EIAs for more information.
\n\nThe trees in your agroforestry system may be damaged by how you manage the land around the tree. This is because the root system of your trees will usually:
\n\nTo help protect the root system, you can avoid disturbing the soil within a suitable radius from the trees (a ‘root protection area’). For example, this would be a 1.5m radius from the tree for 3m wide strips of planting. Read the Woodland Trust’s guidance on root protection areas for more information.
\n\nActivities which could disturb the soil around the trees include:
\n\nWhen you prune and shape the trees once they are established, you may want to consider doing this in a way that means:
\n\nYou can manage your agroforestry system for timber by early pruning and then high pruning later on. This will help you achieve a branch free clear stem of 3m to 5m from the base of the tree, which can improve the high quality of timber.
\n\nFor detailed guidance on maintaining your agroforestry system, read the Soil Association’s Agroforestry Handbook.
\n\nAgroforestry can benefit integrated pest management by providing habitat for natural predators.
\n\nTo increase biodiversity in your agroforestry system, you can consider planting:
\n\nThere are several SFI26 actions that you can do between the trees to increase biodiversity. You can find these SFI actions under ‘Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action’. For example:
\n\n