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£115 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that, during the autumn and winter months, there’s intensive grassland next to a watercourse, with:
\n\nno livestock on it
\nminimal waterlogging, compaction and poaching
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nimprove soil structure
\nreduce surface runoff and risk of diffuse pollution to the watercourse
\nhelp to reduce the risk of flooding
\nYou can do this action on agricultural land which drains directly into a watercourse (stream, river or lake) that’s:
\n\nlocated within a severely disadvantaged area (SDA) below the moorland line
\nidentified by you as being prone to waterlogging, compaction and poaching – you must keep written evidence of this
\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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent grassland – improved and low input | \nPermanent grassland | \nPG01 | \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 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 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 a static action. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
\n\nYou must remove all livestock from the land for the duration of the autumn and winter months. This will usually be from early October until mid-March.
\n\nFor the purposes of this action, livestock includes cattle, sheep, goats, ponies and horses, as relevant.
\n\nYou must keep a written record of grazing activity on each land parcel entered into this action to show you’ve met the livestock removal period required by this action.
\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 end of the winter months, 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 must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is prone to waterlogging, compaction or poaching. You can use a soil management plan you’ve already produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 to identify this.
\n\nYou must also keep the required written record of grazing activity.
\n\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 | \nAGF1, AGF2, CIGL3, OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF1, PRF2 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF1, PRF2 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nIGL3, IPM1, NUM1, SAM1 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW16, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nOR1, OR2, OT1, OT2, SW16 | \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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