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£660 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there are fallow cultivated margins or plots with:
\n\na fine surface suitable for wild arable plants to establish from the soil seed bank when they’re cultivated in the spring or autumn
\nnatural vegetative cover throughout the growing season until the end of the summer
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nallow scarce and declining wild arable plants to increase their populations over time
\nprovide areas of less densely vegetated ground for insects, such as bumblebees, solitary bees and hoverflies
\nprovide summer foraging habitats for farmland birds, such as grey partridge and turtle dove
\nYou can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:
\n\nan eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’)
\nregistered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
\ndeclared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover
\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 |
This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for details (including a list of the ‘limited area’ actions).
\n\nSites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:
\n\ngive notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
\nhave received SSSI consent from Natural England before you do this action (read section 10.1 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details)
\nHistoric and archaeological features: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).
\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 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 rotational or static. This means you can either:
\n\nmove its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
\ndo it at the same location each year of this action’s duration
\nYou must create a fallow margin or plot by cultivating it in the spring or autumn in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nYou must manage the fallow cultivated margin or plot in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nYou must not do the following on the fallow cultivated margin or plot:
\n\ndisturb it before the end of the summer months (usually around the end of August)
\nuse it as regular access tracks for vehicles
\napply any fertilisers, manures or lime
\napply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
\nYou can use an existing cultivated fallow margin or plot to get paid for this action if it:
\n\nmeets this action’s requirements
\nis not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme action or option, such as CS option AB11 (cultivated areas for arable plants)
\nYou must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.
\n\nIf this action’s start date means it’s too late for you to create the fallow margin or plot, you must create it within 12 months of its start date.
\n\nIn the final year of this action’s duration, you must do the action until the end of the summer months or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.
\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 or 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.
\n\nYou 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 | \nAGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nIPM1, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAB2, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nAB2, AB9, HS3, HS9, OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4, SW5, SW6 | \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\nWhen you establish the fallow cultivated margin or plot, by law you cannot cultivate or apply fertilisers or pesticides to land within 2 metres (m) of the centre of a hedgerow. Read the guidance on Hedgerow management rules; buffer strips to understand how these rules apply to you.
\n\nIt’s usually best to locate cultivated areas for arable plants along south-facing headlands. This will help to:
\n\nWild arable plants are more likely to establish on cultivated areas which are:
\n\nUsing a cultivated margin or plot that’s up to around 6 metres (m) wide will usually work well for this action.
\n\nYou could also consider using fields with a long history of cultivation, with old grass margins that were previously arable.
\n\nSome of the more common species of arable plants are good ‘indicator’ species. They indicate the potential of an area to hold rich arable flora in the soil seed bank.
\n\nTo help control and prevent a build-up of undesirable weeds, you can:
\n\nTo prevent seeding of undesirable weeds (such as wild oats and creeping thistle), you can top at a height of around 30 centimetres (cm). It’s best to do this during the growing season, as many of the desirable arable plant species are shorter than this.
\n\nTo control weeds such as black-grass, brome, couch, common ragwort and thistles, you can:
\n\nIf grass weeds become a problem, you can create a stale autumn seedbed and cultivate it in mid-March to help control them. It’s advisable to not do this more frequently that once every 3 years. This is particularly relevant on heavy clay sites. Ploughing can also be useful for controlling grass weeds.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:22:47Z"},{"note":"The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):\r\n\r\n•\tyou can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements\r\n•\tminor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’ \r\n","public_timestamp":"2026-06-02T13:02:59Z"},{"note":"Added detail to explain how Hedgerow Regulations may affect how a farmer does an action, and signpost to detailed guidance on the Management of Hedgerows Regulations.","public_timestamp":"2025-03-21T10:00:51Z"},{"note":"Action’s aim - added ‘when they’re cultivated in the spring or autumn’. \r\nWhere you can do this action - an eligible land type is defined in section 5.1 ‘Eligible land types for SFI’ in the SFI scheme information. \r\nEligibility of protected land - updated link to section 10.3 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI scheme information. \r\nPublished voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements. ","public_timestamp":"2024-07-30T15:41:53Z"},{"note":"First published.","public_timestamp":"2024-05-21T10:41:17Z"}],"headers":[{"id":"duration","level":2,"text":"Duration "},{"id":"how-muchyoullbe-paid","level":2,"text":"How much you’ll be paid "},{"id":"actions-aim","level":2,"text":"Action’s aim "},{"headers":[{"id":"eligible-land","level":3,"text":"Eligible land "},{"id":"limited-area-action","level":3,"text":"25% limited area action "},{"id":"eligibility-of-protected-land","level":3,"text":"Eligibility of protected land "},{"id":"available-area-you-canenter-intothis-action","level":3,"text":"Available area you can enter into this action "},{"id":"rotational-or-static-action","level":3,"text":"Rotational or static action "}],"id":"where-you-can-do-this-action","level":2,"text":"Where you can do this action "},{"id":"what-to-do","level":2,"text":"What to do "},{"id":"when-to-do-it","level":2,"text":"When to do it "},{"id":"how-to-do-it","level":2,"text":"How to do it "},{"id":"evidence-to-keep","level":2,"text":"Evidence to keep "},{"id":"other-actions-or-options-you-can-do-on-the-same-area-as-this-action","level":2,"text":"Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action "},{"headers":[{"id":"choosing-the-right-location","level":3,"text":"Choosing the right location"},{"id":"controlling-weeds-on-your-margins-or-plots","level":3,"text":"Controlling weeds on your margins or plots"}],"id":"advice-to-help-you-do-this-action","level":2,"text":"Advice to help you do this action"}],"max_cache_time":10,"metadata":{"areas_of_interest":["integrated-pest-management","pollinators-and-wildlife","wildlife"],"farming_grant_type":"sustainable-farming-incentive","land_types":["arable"]},"temporary_update_type":false},"document_type":"farming_grant","first_published_at":"2024-05-21T11:41:18+01:00","links":{"available_translations":[{"api_path":"/api/content/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/ahw11-cultivated-areas-for-arable-plants","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/ahw11-cultivated-areas-for-arable-plants","base_path":"/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/ahw11-cultivated-areas-for-arable-plants","content_id":"e1ff7840-25f3-446f-9f55-e9f1f05a0f73","document_type":"farming_grant","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-06-17T11:22:47Z","schema_name":"specialist_document","title":"AHW11: Cultivated areas for arable plants (updated for SFI26)","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/ahw11-cultivated-areas-for-arable-plants","withdrawn":false}],"finder":[{"api_path":"/api/content/find-funding-for-land-or-farms","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/find-funding-for-land-or-farms","base_path":"/find-funding-for-land-or-farms","content_id":"23ad50d7-916c-456b-b3de-4b27739d5be1","details":{"facets":[{"allowed_values":[{"label":"Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier","value":"countryside-stewardship-higher-tier"},{"label":"Sustainable Farming Incentive","value":"sustainable-farming-incentive"}],"display_as_result_metadata":true,"filterable":true,"key":"farming_grant_type","name":"Grant type","preposition":"of type","type":"text"},{"allowed_values":[{"label":"Arable","value":"arable"},{"label":"Coastal","value":"coastal"},{"label":"Farmyard","value":"farmyard"},{"label":"Grassland","value":"grassland"},{"label":"Lowland heath","value":"lowland-heath"},{"label":"Moorland and upland","value":"moorland-and-upland"},{"label":"Scrub","value":"scrub"},{"label":"Waterbodies","value":"waterbodies"},{"label":"Wetland","value":"wetland"},{"label":"Woodland and forest","value":"woodland"},{"label":"Wood pasture","value":"wood-pasture"}],"display_as_result_metadata":true,"filterable":true,"key":"land_types","name":"Land type","preposition":"for","type":"text"},{"allowed_values":[{"label":"Access","value":"access"},{"label":"Agroforestry","value":"agroforestry"},{"label":"Biodiversity","value":"biodiversity"},{"label":"Buffer strips","value":"buffer-strips"},{"label":"Field boundaries","value":"boundaries"},{"label":"Flood prevention","value":"flood-risk"},{"label":"Historic and archaeological features","value":"historic-and-archaeological-features"},{"label":"Horticulture","value":"horticulture"},{"label":"Integrated pest management","value":"integrated-pest-management"},{"label":"Livestock management","value":"livestock-management"},{"label":"Nutrient management","value":"nutrient-management"},{"label":"Orchards","value":"orchards"},{"label":"Organic","value":"organic"},{"label":"Peat","value":"peat"},{"label":"Pollinators","value":"pollinators-and-wildlife"},{"label":"Precision farming, equipment and machinery","value":"precision-farming"},{"label":"Soil health","value":"soil"},{"label":"Species recovery and management","value":"species-recovery-and-management"},{"label":"Trees","value":"trees"},{"label":"Vegetation control","value":"vegetation-control"},{"label":"Water availability and storage","value":"water-availability-and-storage"},{"label":"Water quality","value":"water-quality"},{"label":"Wildlife","value":"wildlife"}],"display_as_result_metadata":true,"filterable":true,"key":"areas_of_interest","name":"Areas of interest","preposition":"with","type":"text"}],"index_documents_in_search_engines":true,"show_metadata_block":true,"show_table_of_contents":true},"document_type":"finder","links":{},"locale":"en","public_updated_at":"2026-05-21T10:39:47Z","schema_name":"finder","title":"Find funding for land or farms","web_url":"https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms","withdrawn":false}],"organisations":[{"analytics_identifier":"D7","api_path":"/api/content/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs","api_url":"https://www.gov.uk/api/content/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs","base_path":"/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs","content_id":"de4e9dc6-cca4-43af-a594-682023b84d6c","details":{"acronym":"Defra","brand":"department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs","default_news_image":{"high_resolution_url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a37dad140f0b649cceb1813/s960_defra-sign-grey.jpg","url":"https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a37dad1ed915d5a62fdc6d6/s300_defra-sign-grey.jpg"},"logo":{"crest":"single-identity","formatted_title":"Department