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£27 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that precision farming equipment is used to apply all major nutrients:
\n\nat a variable rate, which means the nutrient application rate is automatically varied
\nto match the nutrient needs of crops on different areas of land
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nreduce over-application of nutrients
\nimprove yields from more consistent crop growth and quality
\nimprove water and air quality
\nYou can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:
\n\nreceiving applications of at least one major nutrient (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg)) at a rate typically above 100 kilograms (kg) N per ha, 40kg P per ha and 40kg K per ha per year
\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 |
| Improved permanent grassland | \nPermanent grassland | \nPG01 | \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) can 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 apply all major nutrients across the land entered into this action using Variable Rate Application (VRA) equipment.
\n\nThe VRA equipment must be either:
\n\npre-programmed with a ‘variable rate file’ using data from zonal soil or crop testing and analysis or remote sensing
\nlinked to a tractor or sprayer mounted crop reflectance sensor
\nYou must make sure the VRA equipment automatically varies the application rate of the major nutrients in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nThe only exception to this is if you apply an initial ‘wake up’ application of nitrogen to arable crops in late winter or early spring. In this case, you can:
\n\nuse equipment that is not VRA equipment
\napply the nitrogen at a ‘flat rate’ for the initial ‘wake up’ application only
\nFor the purposes of this action, major nutrients include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg), as relevant, contained in:
\n\nmanufactured fertilisers – solid or liquid
\nsolid manures – such as farmyard manure, poultry litter, sewage sludge or biosolids
\nslurry or digestate, including separated liquid
\nYou do not need to use VRA equipment to apply:
\n\nmicro-nutrients, such as boron or sulphur
\nlime, because is not a nutrient – it helps to increase the availability of major nutrients and controls soil acidity (pH)
\n‘Zonal’ soil testing means you divide land parcels into soil management zones and take soil samples within each zone.
\n\nThe data from zonal soil testing and analysis must cover a minimum of P, K, Mg and pH. You can use existing zonal soil testing analysis if it:
\n\nmeets this action’s requirements
\nis less than 5 years old
\nYou must do this action from its start date, throughout 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\ninvoices for zonal soil testing and analysis
\nthe ‘variable rate file’ uploaded to the VRA equipment
\nan ‘as applied’ VRA record at a land parcel level
\ninitial flat rate N application records showing the product, the rate and date of application (if relevant)
\nfield operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
\ncontractor’s invoice if you use a contractor to do this action
\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, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, CAHL2, CIGL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM2, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3, WBD4, WBD6, WBD7 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, AHW1, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, CAHL2, CIGL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM2, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFA1, OFA6, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4, WBD4, WBD5, WBD6, WBD7, WBD8 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nAHL2, IGL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM2, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAB11, CAB14, CAB16, CAB17, CAB2, CAB5, CAB6, CAB7, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CGS4, CHS3, CHS9, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW13, CSW15, CSW16, CSW7, CSW8, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nAB1, AB11, AB14, AB15, AB16, AB2, AB5, AB6, AB7, AB8, AB9, GS3, GS4, HS2, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR1, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT1, OT3, OT4, OT5, SW10, SW12, SW13, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8, SW9 | \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\nTo carry out zonal soil testing, you can divide land parcels into soil management zones by using:
\n\nWhere possible, avoid taking soil samples on any area of land with historic or archaeological features identified on your SFI HEFER. If you need to take soil samples, read section 5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI scheme information before doing so.
\n\nTo apply nitrogen (N), you can use VRA equipment that’s either:
\n\n