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£515 per hectare (ha) per year – calculate the hectarage by:
\n\nmeasuring the length of the buffer strip in metres (m)
\nmultiplying that length by the relevant width (6m to 12m) to give the area in m2
\ndividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into ha
\nThis action’s aim is that there’s a grass buffer strip:
\n\nwith an intact grass sward throughout the year
\nwithout tracks, compacted areas or poaching
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nprotect existing landscape and heritage features
\nprovide habitat for wildlife
\nprevent pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, from being carried in surface water runoff, if located next to a watercourse
\nsupport an integrated pest management approach, if located close to cropped areas, which can help to reduce costs and improve farm resilience
\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’ 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 can also do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area. Check the flood risk map and read the guidance on how to use the flood risk map. This can include land which may have flood risk management works carried out on it by a flood risk management authority, such as Internal Drainage Boards.
\n\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 |
| Permanent crops – horticultural | \nPermanent crops | \nTC01 | \n\n |
Sites 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 static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
\n\nYou must establish and maintain a grass strip on land entered into this action that’s:
\n\nat least 4m to 12m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 12m wide, but you’ll only be paid for the 12m width.
\non the edge of arable and horticultural land
\nThe grass strip must buffer an existing landscape feature, or certain heritage features, such as:
\n\nhedgerows
\nstone walls
\nwoodland
\nditches, rivers and streams
\nupstanding historic and archaeological features, such as earthworks, in-field structures or buildings
\nYou can also locate the grass buffer strip next to:
\n\ntrackways that channel run-off water directly into a watercourse
\nfence lines that form links between areas of wildlife habitat
\nYou must make sure the grass strip is in addition to any regulatory requirements relating to buffer strips.
\n\nOnce the grass strip is established, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nDuring late summer, after the bird breeding season, you must cut part of the grass strip’s width next to the edge of the crop or fallow land. You must do this along as much of the strip’s length as possible. This is to provide some shorter vegetation and a range of habitat types.
\n\nFlood risk management authorities, such as Internal Drainage Boards, may carry out flood risk management works on the grass buffer strip if it’s located in a flood risk area. Check the flood risk map and read the guidance on how to use the flood risk map. If this happens, you must repair any damage to the grass buffer strip as soon as reasonably practicable.
\n\nYou must not do any of the following on the grass buffer strip once it’s established:
\n\nuse it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
\napply fertilisers or manures
\napply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
\nYou can maintain an existing grass buffer strip to get paid for this action if it:
\n\nmeet this action’s requirements
\nare not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW1 (4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land)
\nYou must:
\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. 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 | \nAGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nIPM1, NUM1, SAM1 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nOR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5 | \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\nYou can establish the grass buffer strip by either:
\n\nThis action explains:
\n\nYou are required by law to have 2m buffer strips next to hedgerows. This means you need to establish the 4m to 12m wide grass strip at least 2m from the centre of a hedgerow. Read the guidance on Hedgerow management rules: buffer strips to understand how these rules apply to you.
\n\nSowing a seed mix can establish the grass buffer more quickly, which can reduce the risk of soil erosion.
\n\nYou can choose a seed mix that contains native grass species, such as:
\n\nIt can help the seeds to germinate if they’re sown into a seedbed that’s:
\n\nYou can either:
\n\nIf the soil is dry enough, rolling after you have sown the seeds can:
\n\nYour seed supplier can:
\n\nUsing natural regeneration means the grasses in the buffer strip are local to your area. It can take longer to establish the buffer strip, but it may cost less.
\n\nTo encourage the seeds that are already in the soil to germinate, you can cultivate the soil between spring and late summer.
\n\nOnce the grass buffer strip is established, this action requires you to maintain it by managing it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nThis action requires you to cut part of the grass strip’s width next to the edge of the crop or fallow land during late summer (after the bird breeding season).
\n\nIt’s up to you how much of the buffer strip’s width you cut. Cutting up to half of the width from the edge of the crop or fallow land can help to provide:
\n\nYou can stagger cutting, so you do not cut all your buffer strips at the same time. during late summer. This will usually mean there’s always habitat available for invertebrates and small mammals.
\n\nWhere possible, remove the cut vegetation to limit weeds and reduce the risk of it smothering the flower species. If this is impractical, you can finely chop the vegetation to spread it as thinly as possible.
\n\nYou may need to control weeds when they appear. To control weeds like docks, nettles, thistles and common ragwort, you can cut the affected area, providing there’s still an intact grass sward. This action also allows you to use herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat weeds.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:09:02Z"},{"note":"The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):\r\n\r\n•\tyou can now do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area (see ‘Where you can do this action’) and there’s updated wording to cover if a flood risk management authority carries out flood risk management works on that land (see ‘What to do’) – 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":"2026-06-02T13:07:56Z"},{"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":"2025-03-20T15:38:40Z"},{"note":"Where 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\nWhat to do - storing bales or machinery added as an example of ‘storage’. \r\nPublished voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements. 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