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£43 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that camera or remote sensing guided technology is used to apply systemic herbicides to control weeds, so they’re targeted precisely.
\n\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nreduce the volume of herbicide applied
\nincrease biodiversity
\nimprove water quality, soil quality and productivity
\nsupport an integrated pest management approach
\nYou can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:
\n\nreceiving systemic herbicides to control weeds which camera or remote sensing guided technology can recognise
\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 land cover
\nCamera recognition is currently available for:
\n\ndocks and nettles in grass or leys containing clover
\nall weeds in maize
\ncertain crops grown on wide row spacings (such as potatoes)
\nstubbles – where there’s green growth
\nRemote sensing technology uses artificial intelligence to recognise target weeds.
\n\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 grassland – improved and low input | \nPermanent grassland | \nPG01 | \n\n |
| Permanent crops | \nPermanent crops | \nLand use codes for permanent crops\n | \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 systemic (contact) herbicides on land entered into this action using camera or remote sensing technology that:
\n\nidentifies specific weeds to be controlled
\nautomatically switches on individual nozzles to apply the herbicides directly to the identified weeds
\nSystemic herbicides kill the whole weed, from leaf to root.
\n\nYou must only carry out a ‘blanket’ application of herbicides if you’re applying:
\n\nglyphosate to destroy a cover crop or create a stale seedbed before drilling
\nresidual herbicides before sown crop plants or weeds emerge (‘pre-emergence’) – this can be at the same time the crop is established (drilled or planted) or within a few days of establishment
\npre-harvest herbicide or desiccant to combinable crops
\nA ‘blanket’ application means you apply herbicides uniformly across an area, rather than targeting the application to identified weeds.
\n\nYou must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.
\n\nYou must follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must.’
\n\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\n‘as applied’ data, such as a map showing where individual nozzles switch on to apply herbicide
\na record of any permitted blanket application of herbicide, including the date it was applied
\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, AHW3, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, BFS6, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CLIG3, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM2, CSAM3, HEF6, OFC1, OFC2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM1, OFM2, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3, WBD3, WBD4, WBD6, WBD7 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, AHW1, AHW10, AHW11, AHW3, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, BFS2, BFS3, BFS4, BFS5, BFS6, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CLIG3, CNUM1, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3, HEF5, HEF6, HEF8, OFA1, OFA6, OFC1, OFC2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM1, OFM2, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4, WBD3, WBD4, WBD5, WBD6, WBD7, WBD8 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nAHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IGL1, IGL2, IGL3, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, NUM2, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAB10, CAB11, CAB14, CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CAB2, CAB5, CAB6, CAB7, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CGS4, CHS2, CHS3, CHS4, CHS5, CHS6, CHS9, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW13, CSW15, CSW16, CSW17, CSW18, CSW19, CSW20, CSW21, CSW23, CSW24, CSW7, CSW8, CWS1, CWS3, CWT1, CWT2 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nAB1, AB10, AB11, AB14, AB15, AB16, AB2, AB3, AB5, AB6, AB7, AB8, AB9, BE1, BE2, GS1, GS2, GS3, GS4, GS5, HS2, HS3, HS4, HS5, HS6, HS9, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR1, OR2, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT1, OT2, OT3, OT4, OT5, SW1, SW10, SW13, SW15, SW16, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8, SW9, WT1, WT2 | \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\nThe camera or remote sensor guided technology you use can be either:
\n\n