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£55 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there’s companion crop growing with a main arable or horticultural crop.
\n\nThe purpose of this is to do one or more of the following:
\n\nsupport an integrated pest management (IPM) approach by acting as a trap crop for pests or by supressing weeds
\nprovide a habitat for birds and invertebrates, including pollinators and natural crop pest predators
\nmanage nutrient efficiency
\nprotect soil and improve its condition
\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
|---|---|---|
| Arable land used to grow crops | \nArable land | \nLand use codes for arable crops crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops\n | \n
| Temporary grassland | \nArable land | \nTG01 | \n
| Arable land lying fallow | \nArable land | \nFA01 | \n
| Permanent crops – horticultural | \nPermanent crops | \nTC01 | \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 SFI 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 establish a companion crop on land entered into this action, so it’s growing with the main arable or horticultural crop.
\n\nThe companion crop does not have to be present for the full growing period of the arable or horticultural crop, as long as it’s managed in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve the action’s aim and its intended purpose.
\n\nYou can establish the companion crop by:
\n\ntrap cropping – sowing a trap crop to attract crop pests away from the main arable or horticultural crop
\ninter-cropping – sowing the companion crop with the main arable or horticultural crop
\nundersowing – sowing a companion crop to form a living mulch beneath the arable or horticultural crop
\nYou must avoid growing deep rooted species of companion crop on any area within a land parcel with historic or archaeological features identified in your SFI HEFER. Read section 5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI scheme information for more details.
\n\nYou can use an existing companion crop to get paid for this action if it meets this action’s requirements.
\n\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 do this action, you must start doing it within 12 months of the action’s start date.
\n\nFor example, if you’ve already sown the main arable and horticultural crop before this action starts, you can establish the companion crop within 12 months of this action’s start date.
\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
|---|---|
| \nSFI 2026 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, CAHL2, CIPM4, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3 | \n
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3 | \n
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nAHL2, IPM1, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2 | \n
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAB17, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3 | \n
| \nCS options | \nHS3, HS9, OP1, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5, SW6 | \n
| \nES options | \nNo ES revenue options | \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 SFI 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 arable or horticultural crop to grow with the companion crop, 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\nThe species and type of companion crop you choose to sow will be determined by:
\n\nYou can establish the companion crop by trap cropping, inter-cropping or undersowing.
\n\nYour seed supplier can help you choose what to sow and advise you on an overall sowing rate.
\n\nTo establish the companion crop as a trap crop, you can sow it:
\n\nThis can help attract pests away from the main crop.
\n\nFind out more about trap cropping in the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) guidance on using companion cropping to manage cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape.
\n\nTo establish the companion crop as an intercrop, you can sow the companion crop with the main arable or horticultural crop. You can then harvest them together.
\n\nThis can help suppress weeds, reduce disease and crop pests, and provide nutrients.
\n\nFind out more about intercropping on the Processors and Growers Research Organisation website.
\n\nTo establish the companion crop by undersowing, you can sow it either:
\n\nYou can then leave the companion crop to grow on after you harvest the main crop.
\n\nThis can help to suppress weeds, retain nutrients and protect against soil erosion.
\n\nFind out more about undersowing in the AHDB guidance on:
\n\n