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£28 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis supplemental action’s aim is that there’s a sward with a range of shorter and taller grasses.
\n\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\ncreate habitats for spiders and other insects (including grasshoppers and beetles)
\nprovide spring and summer invertebrate food for birds (such as yellowhammers, reed buntings and skylarks)
\nYou can do this supplemental action on eligible land you enter into the base action CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs. You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as the base action.
\n\nThe land parcel must meet one of the following conditions:
\n\nhave at least one boundary that’s a hedgerow
\nthere’s scrub cover close to the parcel (usually around 200 metres away)
\nSites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as the base action.
\n\nHistoric and archaeological features: Same as the base action.
\n\nSame as the base action.
\n\nSame as the base action.
\n\nDuring the growing season, you must manage the sward in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes lightly grazing it with cattle, or a combination of cattle and sheep.
\n\nYou must not cut the area for hay or silage.
\n\nYou must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.
\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\nstocking records to show grazing activity at a land parcel level
\nfield operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
\nphotographs or other documentation to show management undertaken
\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 | \nSame as the SFI26 base action | \n
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nSame as the SFI26 base action | \n
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nSame as the SFI26 base action | \n
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nSame as the SFI26 base action | \n
| \nCS options | \nSame as the SFI26 base action | \n
| \nES options | \nSame as the SFI26 base action | \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 apply for supplemental action SPM3: ‘Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)’ on the same area as this supplemental action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.
\n\nThe following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nTo give the most benefits for farmland birds, it’s best if you locate this supplemental action:
\n\nTo provide sufficient spring and summer invertebrate food for birds, you’ll usually need to have at least 1 hectare (ha) of this supplemental action per 100ha of your farm.
\n\nTo help you achieve this action’s aim, grazing can be rotational or intermittent. However, to avoid the sward becoming rank during rest periods, try to allow your livestock (cattle, or a combination of cattle and sheep) to eat the sward down well during the grazing periods.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:29:29Z"},{"note":"Changes made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version): You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as base action CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-02T13:12:04Z"},{"note":"Duration - 3 years instead of ‘same as base action’. \r\nWhere you can do this action - added LIG1, LIG2 as base actions. You cannot do this supplemental action on land in GS2 and GS5. \r\nEligibility of protected land - added ‘your selected’ in relation to the base action. \r\nAvailable area - same as or less than your selected base action. \r\nRotational or static action - added ‘your selected’ in relation to the base action. \r\nOther actions or options you can do on the same area - added ‘your selected’ in relation to the base action. \r\nPublished voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements. 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