This is a Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) action. Read the SFI26 scheme information tounderstand 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£532 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there’s an established legume fallow with plants that:
\n\ngrow and flower from late spring and during the summer months
\nprovide green cover over the winter months
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nmanage nutrient efficiency and improved soil health
\nprovide food for farmland wildlife, such as pollen and nectar for pollinators and farmland birds
\nsupport an integrated pest management approach by reducing grass weeds and, if located close to cropped areas, encourage natural crop pest predators
\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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 legume fallow on land entered into this action.
\n\nYou must use a seed mix which contains at least 6 flowering species, including legumes. The seed mix can contain legumes such as:
\n\nalsike clover
\nbird’s foot trefoil
\nblack medick
\ncommon vetch
\nlucerne
\nThe seed mix can also include:
\n\nnon-legume flower species
\ngrasses, such as cocksfoot or timothy, which can help to control blackgrass
\nYou must avoid growing deep rooted legumes, such as lucerne, on any area in a land parcel that contains historic or archaeological features. These are identified in your SFI HEFER.
\n\nOnce the legume fallow is established (usually from the second spring after sowing), you must maintain it. To do this, you must manage it in a way, and for a period of time, that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nYou must not do the following on the established legume fallow:
\n\ngraze it with livestock – if you want to do this you may want to consider action CSAM3 (herbal leys) instead which allows grazing activity
\nuse the area for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
\ncut it, except to prevent blackgrass from setting seed or to control other annual grass weeds
\napply any fertilisers and 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 legume fallow 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 option, such as CS option AB15 (two year sown legume fallow)
\nYou must:
\n\nmaintain the legume fallow at the same location for a period of time that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim – this will usually be until the end of the second summer after sowing
\nIf you want to establish a legume fallow in the spring and remove it in the summer during the same year, you should apply for the summer-sown cover crops action (SOH3).
\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, including details of the seed mix used
\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, SOH1 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nIPM1, NUM1, SAM1 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, 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\nThis action explains the minimum requirement for flowering species, including legumes, in the seed mix (under ‘What to do’).
\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 legume fallow, 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\nWhen you sow the seed mix, it can help to use sites:
\n\nTry to avoid sowing the seed mix on sites that are:
\n\nSpreading the legume fallow 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\nIt can help the seeds to germinate if they’re sown:
\n\nYou can either:
\n\nAfter you have sown the seed mix (if the soil is dry enough), you can roll the seeds to:
\n\nIn the first few months after sowing, it’s advisable to check the area for successful germination and pest damage.
\n\nIf establishment is poor, you may need to re-sow part or all the area. Your seed supplier can help you if you’re unsure what to do.
\n\nOnce the area is established, you can maintain it by managing it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nDuring the first spring and summer after sowing, you can control annual grass weeds, such as blackgrass, by:
\n\nDuring the second year after sowing, you can control blackgrass by:
\n\nCheck the area for signs of nesting birds before you cut it. Birds, nests and eggs are protected by law, so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay cutting until the birds fledge
\n\nRemove the cut vegetation (where possible) 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 them as thinly as possible.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:32:13Z"},{"note":"The payment rate has been reduced - this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 or SFI24 agreements.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-03T16:26:52Z"},{"note":"The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):\r\n\r\n•\tremoved reference to SFI24 action SOH2: Multi-species spring-sown cover crop because SOH2 is not available for SFI26 – see ‘When to do it’\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":"2026-06-02T13:10:59Z"},{"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":"2025-03-21T10:07:02Z"},{"note":"OFM6 added to SFI 2024 actions.","public_timestamp":"2024-08-13T15:17:45Z"},{"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\nRotational or static action - this action is rotational or static. Wording on new and existing legume fallow has been removed. \r\nWhat to do - storing bales or machinery added as an example of ‘storage’. \r\nWhen to do it - wording updated to reflect that this action is rotational or static for new and existing legume fallow. ","public_timestamp":"2024-08-01T16:00:09Z"},{"note":"First published.","public_timestamp":"2024-05-21T10:34:11Z"}],"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":"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 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