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£163 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there’s a well-established summer-sown multi-species cover crop which is present between harvesting a cash crop, until either:
\n\nthe next cash crop is sown
\na winter cover crop is sown
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nprotect the soil surface
\nprovide root growth that benefits soil structure, supports soil biology and minimises nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff
\nadd organic matter
\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, excluding temporary grassland | \nArable land | \nLand use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops\n | \n\n |
| Arable land lying fallow | \nArable land | \nFA01 | \n\n |
| Permanent horticultural crops | \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 establish a multi-species cover crop mix during the summer months (usually between June and August) which will not be harvested as a cash crop.
\n\nA ‘cash crop’ means a crop grown to be harvested for commercial use.
\n\nYou must use a rapid growing seed mix that contains at least 4 species. This must include 2 species from two or more of the following plant families:
\n\nbrassicas
\nlegumes
\ncereals and grasses, with grasses making up no more than 25% of the total mix by weight
\nherbs
\nThe seed mix must not contain:
\n\nJapanese reed millet
\nmaize
\nmiscanthus or reed canary grass
\nsorghum (all varieties)
\nartichokes
\nsweet fennel
\nYou must avoid growing deep rooted species on any area within a land parcel with historic or archaeological features identified in your SFI HEFER. Read section 5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.
\n\nYou must maintain the multi-species cover crop in a way, and for a period of time, that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nFor the purposes of this action’s aim, the cover crop will be well-established if there’s:
\n\nleafy vegetation that’s sufficiently well grown to protect the soil surface
\nminimal bare soil
\nYou must not do the following on the well-established cover crop:
\n\ncut it or graze it with livestock (other than when destroying the cover crop)
\nmechanically apply any fertilisers or manures
\ndestroy it more than 2 weeks before you intend to establish the next main crop
\nWhen you destroy the cover crop, you should try to minimise risks such as compaction, poaching, soil runoff or erosion.
\n\nIf something happens which means you cannot complete this action, you must tell the RPA in writing as soon as possible. For example, if there’s prolonged adverse weather. 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\nYou must not use the following to meet this action:
\n\na multi-species temporary grass ley, such as a mix of grass and clover, that is being used for grazing
\na multi-species crop which you intend to harvest as a cash crop, such as a mix of wheat and clover
\nYou can only use an existing multi-species cover crop to meet this action’s requirements if you overseed it. This includes a cover crop already paid for under an environmental land management scheme action, such as SOH2 (multi-species spring-sown cover crop).
\n\nYou must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.
\n\nIf this action’s start date means it’s too late for you to do this action, you must start doing it within 12 months of the action’s start date.
\n\nIn the final year of this action’s duration, you must do this action until the next main crop is sown, or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.
\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 and 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, AHW6, CAHL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nAHL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAB17, CAB2, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nAB2, AB9, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP5, OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4, SW5, SW6 | \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\nIf you’re doing this action on land used to grow permanent horticultural crops, you can plant cover crops:
\n\nThis action explains the minimum requirement for species in the seed mix (under ‘What to do’). The table shows examples of what you could use.
\n\n| Plant family | \nSpecies | \n
|---|---|
| Brassicas | \nYellow mustard, brown mustard, oil radish, tillage radish, stubble turnip, kale | \n
| Legumes | \nCommon vetch, hairy vetch, red clover, white clover, alsike clover, sweet clover, crimson clover, lucerne, black meddick, peas and beans | \n
| Cereals or grasses | \nItalian ryegrass, festulolium, black oats, forage rye, barley, winter triticale | \n
| Herbs | \nPhacelia, buckwheat, linseed | \n
Choosing a varied mix (with multiple species from different plant families and with different characteristics) will normally bring greater benefits to your soil.
\n\nIf you’re in an area with a shorter growing season, you may need to choose plants that germinate and grow in cooler weather.
\n\nYour seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions.
\n\nYou may find it helpful to read the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) information sheet about cover crops.
\n\nWhen you establish the cover crop, by law you cannot cultivate or apply fertilisers or pesticides to land within 2m of the centre of a hedgerow. Read the guidance on Hedgerow management rules: buffer strips to understand how these rules apply to you.
\n\nYour seed supplier can advise you on an overall sowing rate for the seed mix you choose.
\n\nYou can drill or broadcast the seed mix. Drilling seeds is usually more reliable and gives a higher germination success than broadcasting. However, broadcasting is cheaper.
\n\nAfter you have sown the seed mix you can roll the seeds if the soil is dry enough. This can help to:
\n\nThe cover crop will usually provide the most benefits to your soil if you maintain it for a period of at least around 8 consecutive weeks. However, this may differ depending on your crop rotation and geographical location.
\n\nIf you’re destroying the multi-species cover crop, you can choose what method you use.
\n\nYou can increase the benefits to soil of cover crops by combining them with:
\n\n