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£89 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there’s a low livestock density grazing on the moorland, so its habitat is maintained or enhanced alongside farming.
\n\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nprevent expansion of areas of bare ground
\nincrease surface roughness
\nreduce diffuse pollution
\nimprove water quality and flood risk management
\nprovide habitats for moorland species
\nprotect historic and archaeological features
\nYou can do this action on land located above 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
\nIf a land parcel is located above and below the moorland line, you can enter it into this action if:
\n\nmost of the area is above the moorland line
\nit’s managed as one grazing unit with adjacent land parcels located above the moorland line
\nFarmyards or land used for turf or peat production are not eligible for this action.
\n\n| Eligible land type | \nEligible land cover | \nCompatible land use code | \n\n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent grassland | \nPermanent grassland | \nPG01 | \n\n |
| Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog | \nRelevant non-agricultural land cover, such as scrub, scree, bracken or bog | \nRelevant non-agricultural land use code to match land cover | \n\n |
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must get SSSI consent before you do this action. Read section 10.1 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out about:
\n\nwhat it’s advisable for you to do before you apply for this action on SSSI land
\nhow to give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent – you will not be offered an SFI26 agreement until Natural England confirms you have done this
\nwhat stocking information you need to provide with your SSSI notice
\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 make sure that the livestock density across the land entered into this action does not exceed 0.08 grazing livestock units (GLU) per ha at any time.
\n\nTo convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:
\n\nCattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU
\nCattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU
\nLowland ewe and lamb, ram – 0.12 GLU
\nStore lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
\nGoat – 0.12 GLU
\nPony or donkey – 0.8 GLU
\nHorse – 1.0 GLU
\nLambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation. They are included in the figures shown for ‘ewe and lamb’.
\n\nRead the ‘advice to help you do this action’ to find out how to calculate the livestock density.
\n\nYou must not carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on land entered into this action, except with mineral licks.
\n\nYou can carry out supplementary feeding of livestock in extreme weather conditions (defined as 2 or more consecutive days of deep snow or hard frost). In this case, you can feed hay or haylage, but only for the purpose of animal welfare. If you do this, you must:
\n\nmove the feeding sites around the land entered into this action to minimise damage to the soil and vegetation
\navoid transferring undesirable species which are in the hay or haylage, such as docks or rosebay willowherb
\nYou must not:
\n\nfeed livestock on or next to historic and archaeological features, steep slopes or footpaths
\nuse troughs or feeders
\nYou may need to reduce or remove livestock from the area to avoid damage to the soil and vegetation if you need to feed regularly during extreme weather.
\n\nAt the start of each year of this action’s duration, you must produce a written stocking calendar for each land parcel entered into this action. This can be a paper-based or electronic record.
\n\nThe stocking calendar must show how you plan to meet this action’s requirements. It must include:
\n\nland parcel reference number and hectarage
\ndates you plan to graze the land parcel during each calendar month
\nmonthly numbers of livestock which will graze the land parcel, including their type and age bracket
\nIf you manage several adjacent land parcels as one grazing unit, you can keep one stocking calendar for that grazing unit. You must include all the land parcel reference numbers which comprise that grazing unit.
\n\nIf something happens which means you cannot complete this action, you must tell the RPA about this in writing as soon as possible. For example, if there are fodder supply issues, so you need to increase the stocking level. 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 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 the required written stocking calendar and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.
\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 | \nOFM3, UPL10, UPL8 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nCMOR1, HEF5, OFM3, UPL10, UPL7, UPL8, UPL9 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nMOR1 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW25, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nHS4 | \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\nYou can apply for one of the following supplemental actions on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application:
\n\nUPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) – you can also apply for SPM5 on the same area as UPL5
\nUPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU) – you can also apply for SPM5 on the same area as UPL6
\nSPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) – you can also apply for UPL5 or UPL6 on the same area as SPM5
\nThe following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nWhen you use the values shown under ‘What to do’ to convert your livestock numbers into GLU, the sheep values have the following meanings:
\n\nOnce you’ve converted your livestock numbers into GLU, you can use the to calculate the livestock density per ha.
\n\nCattle, sheep, and ponies graze in different ways.
\n\nYou can achieve greater environmental benefits if you graze the moorland with:
\n\nPonies:
\n\nCattle:
\n\nCattle are more likely to cause poaching due to their size, particularly on wetter areas. You can remove them from the area over the winter months to reduce the risk of poaching.
\n\nSheep:
\n\nSheep can cause a decline in dwarf shrub cover due to selective browsing, particularly when out over the winter months. You can reduce the risk of this happening by:
\n\nTo help you achieve this action’s aim, you can maintain or enhance the habitat on moorland by grazing appropriately. This includes trying to trying to avoid grazing on sensitive priority habitats.
\n\nYou’ll usually need to graze the following moorland habitats, as relevant:
\n\nSensitive priority habitats which may be damaged by grazing include:
\n\nIf the area of moorland you enter into this action is unfenced and adjacent land is grazed by other farmers or land managers, you may need to:
\n\n