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£102 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there are legumes growing from spring until early autumn.
\n\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nmanage nutrient efficiency
\nprotect the soil surface
\nprovide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology, and minimise nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff
\nsupport an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas
\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
\n| Eligible land type | \nEligible land cover | \nCompatible land use code | \n\n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary grassland | \nArable land | \nTG01 | \n\n |
| Improved permanent grassland | \nPermanent grassland | \nPG01 | \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: 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 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 and maintain legumes on improved grassland entered into this action.
\n\nYou can use one or more type of legume, such as:
\n\nred clover
\nwhite clover
\nalsike clover
\nsainfoin
\nlucerne
\nbird’s foot trefoil
\nYou can establish the legumes by:
\n\nadding them to an existing grass sward
\nsowing a mix of grass and legumes
\nOnce established, you must maintain the legumes. To do this, you must manage them in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nYou can maintain existing areas of legumes on improved grassland to get paid this action if they:
\n\nmeet this action’s requirements
\nare not already being for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option GS4 (legume and herb-rich swards)
\nIf you’re doing this action on the same area of land for this action’s 3-year duration, you must:
\n\nIf you’re rotating this action around your farm, each year of your SFI agreement you must do it for a period of time that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\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, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1 | \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, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nOR1, OR3, OT1, OT3 | \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\nSainfoin, lucerne and alsike clover are more suited to grassland that you cut.
\n\nYour seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions.
\n\nWhen you establish the legumes, 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 can help to sow the seed mix where you want to reduce fertiliser use.
\n\nNitrogen fixation from the legumes will reduce if the soil phosphate and pH are not at optimal levels.
\n\nSpreading the legume areas across the farm can help to provide a network of habitats for farmland wildlife.
\n\nYour seed supplier can advise you on an overall sowing rate for the seed mix you choose.
\n\nYou can sow the seed mix shallowly into a firm seedbed or overseed into an established grass sward.
\n\nSowing the seed mix in March or April can help germination.
\n\nAlternatively, you can sow after a silage cut, as the grassland is likely to be more open. You may get better results after the second silage cut (or late hay cut), as the regrowth is less vigorous.
\n\nLegumes sowed after August may not establish before the winter.
\n\nIt’s advisable to keep livestock off the areas of legumes while the seedlings establish. This will prevent new grasses or legumes being grazed out.
\n\nOnce the legumes are established, you can cut them or graze them with livestock providing you do it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This will help to reduce competition from existing plants.
\n\nYou may find it helpful to read Farm Wildlife’s advice on rotational legume and herb-rich swards for livestock farming. This includes guidance on how you could manage the legume areas under ‘ongoing management’.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:31:54Z"},{"note":"No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version).\r\nThere have only been minor 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":"2026-06-02T13:10:43Z"},{"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":"2025-03-21T10:05:31Z"},{"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. You can apply for this action on the area in a land parcel that does not contain an historic or archaeological feature. \r\nPublished voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements. 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