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£1,920 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that orchards which produce top fruit and permanent bush crops are maintained under organic management.
\n\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nimprove soil health
\nincrease biodiversity
\nimprove water quality
\nYou can do this action on land located below the moorland line that’s:
\n\nregistered as ‘fully organic’ by a Defra-licensed organic control body
\nused to grow top fruit (such as apples, pears and plums) or bush fruit crops (such as gooseberries and redcurrants) as a commercial crop which is not used to produce alcoholic drinks
\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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 available area in a land parcel (at the point of application). 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 Rural Payments Agency (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:
\n\ncomply with the organic standards required by your Defra-licensed organic control body on land entered into this action
\nprotect the trees from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits, to prevent serious damage
\nmanage weeds and vegetation around the base of establishing trees
\nYou must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.
\n\nYou must do this action in a way that meets the required organic standards.
\n\nYou must keep a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration
\n\nYou must also keep other evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:
\n\nfield operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
\ncopies of sales receipts for fruit crops
\nphotographs and other documentation
\nYou must supply this 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 | \nCAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM3, PRF1, PRF2 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAHW1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM3, CSAM1, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nAHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM3, SAM1 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CBE4, CBE5, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nAB16, AB8, BE4, BE5 | \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:
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