SFI26 actions (print version)

Question 1

Agroforestry

Accepted Answer

AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land

AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land

AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

updated wording to clarify where you cannot do this action and eligible in-field agroforestry systems (see ‘Where you can do this action’) – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£248 per hectare (ha) per year – the hectarage can include:

the area used to grow agroforestry trees
the areas between the trees, used for arable or horticultural crops, grassland or other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s an established very low density in-field agroforestry system that’s maintained, so there’s a combination of both:

trees (including shrubs)
arable or horticultural crops, grassland for forage or areas used for other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

The purpose of this is to:

reduce soil erosion and flooding
improve water and air quality
provide shelter for crops and livestock
contribute to carbon capture and storage

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on an eligible in-field agroforestry system on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

land with a ‘low sensitivity to agroforestry’ – these are the blue areas on the Forestry Commission’s map
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You cannot do this action on land with a higher sensitivity to agroforestry (these are the white areas on the Forestry Commission’s map). This includes:

sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) or other sensitive areas which are listed in the guidance on forestry environmental impact assessments(forestry EIA)
priority habitats such as species-rich grassland – you can find a list of priority habitats on GOV.UK

Eligible in-field agroforestry systems for this action

To be eligible for this action, the in-field agroforestry system must contain established trees. They can be at any stage of maturity, including newly planted saplings if they’ll be left to become mature trees.

Fruit trees must be grown on semi-vigorous or vigorous rootstocks. These will usually produce trees least 4 metres (m) tall.

The existing in-field agroforestry system must also be ‘very low density’. This means that across the area in each land parcel you enter into this action:

there’s an average of 30 to 50 trees per ha, usually planted in rows or a grid
the trees have been planted far enough apart to mean the potential tree canopy cover will be less than 20%, so a forestry EIA was not required – we’ll publish advice to help you do this action with more information

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Permanent crops - horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter any area that’s designated as an SSSI into this action.

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must maintain the very low density in-field agroforestry system in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes:

replacing dead trees, where necessary to make sure the density continues to be an average of at least 30 trees per ha across the area you enter into this action in each land parcel
protecting the trees from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits, to prevent serious damage
managing weeds around the base of establishing trees
pruning and shaping the trees once they are established

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AHW10, AHW11, AHW3, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CLIG3, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3, WBD3, WBD4, WBD6, WBD7
SFI 2024 actions	AHW1, AHW10, AHW11, AHW12, AHW3, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, BFS2, BFS3, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CLIG3, CNUM1, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3, HEF8, OFA1, OFA6, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4, WBD3, WBD4, WBD5, WBD6, WBD7, WBD8
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IGL1, IGL2, IGL3, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, NUM2, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB10, CAB11, CAB14, CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CAB2, CAB6, CAB7, CGS21, CGS4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW13, CSW15, CSW21, CSW23, CSW24, CSW7, CSW8, CWD3, CWS1, CWS3, CWT1, CWT2
CS options	AB1, AB10, AB11, AB14, AB15, AB16, AB2, AB3, AB6, AB7, AB8, AB9, GS2, GS3, GS4, GS5, HS6, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR1, OR3, OR4, OT1, OT3, OT4, SW1, SW10, SW13, SW15, SW16, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8, SW9, WD3, WT1, WT2
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

updated wording to clarify where you cannot do this action and eligible in-field agroforestry systems (see ‘Where you can do this action’) – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration 

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid 

£385 per hectare (ha) per year – the hectarage can include: 

the area used to grow agroforestry trees 
the areas between the trees, used for arable or horticultural crops, grassland or other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

Action’s aim 

This action’s aim is that there’s an established low density in-field agroforestry system that’s maintained, so there’s a combination of both: 

trees (including shrubs) 
arable or horticultural crops, grassland for forage or areas used for other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

The purpose of this is to: 

reduce soil erosion and flooding 
improve water and air quality 
provide shelter for crops and livestock 
contribute to carbon capture and storage

Where you can do this action 

You can do this action on an eligible in-field agroforestry system on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s: 

land with a ‘low sensitivity to agroforestry’ – these are the blue areas on the Forestry Commission’s map 
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information) 
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps 
declared with a land use  code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You cannot do this action on land with a higher sensitivity to agroforestry (these are the white areas on the Forestry Commission’s map). This includes: 

sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) or other sensitive areas which are listed in the guidance on forestry environmental impact assessments (forestry EIA)   - priority habitats such as species-rich grassland – you can find a list of priority habitats on GOV.UK

Eligible in-field agroforestry systems for this action 

To be eligible for this action, the in-field agroforestry system must contain established trees. They can be at any stage of maturity, including newly planted saplings if they’ll be left to become mature trees. 

Fruit trees must be grown on semi-vigorous or vigorous rootstocks. These will usually produce trees at least 4 metres (m) tall. 

The existing in-field agroforestry system must also be ‘very low density’. This means that across the area in each land parcel you enter into this action: 

there’s an average of 51 to 130 trees per ha, usually planted in rows or a grid 
the trees have been planted far enough apart to mean the potential tree canopy cover will be less than 20%, so a forestry EIA was not required – we’ll publish advice to help you do this action with more information

Eligible land 

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Permanent crops - horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land 

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter any area that’s designated as an SSSI into this action. 

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible. 

Available area you can enter into this action 

Total 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. 

You 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.        

Rotational or static action 

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What to do 

You must maintain the low density in-field agroforestry system in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes: 

replacing dead trees, where necessary to make sure the density continues to be an average of at least 51 trees per ha across the area you enter into this action in each land parcel 
protecting the trees from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits, to prevent serious damage
managing weeds around the base of establishing trees 
pruning and shaping the trees once they are established

When to do it 

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration. 

How to do it 

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you: 

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’ 
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements. 

Evidence to keep 

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as: 

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices 
photographs and other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action 

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action. 

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AHW10, AHW11, AHW3, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CLIG3, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3, WBD3, WBD4, WBD6, WBD7
SFI 2024 actions	AHW1, AHW10, AHW11, AHW12, AHW3, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, BFS2, BFS3, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CLIG3, CNUM1, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3, HEF8, OFA1, OFA6, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4, WBD3, WBD4, WBD5, WBD6, WBD7, WBD8
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IGL1, IGL2, IGL3, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, NUM2, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB10, CAB11, CAB14, CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CAB2, CAB6, CAB7, CGS21, CGS4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW13, CSW21, CSW23, CSW24, CSW7, CSW8, CWD3, CWS1, CWS3, CWT1, CWT2
CS options	AB1, AB10, AB11, AB14, AB15, AB16, AB2, AB3, AB6, AB7, AB8, AB9, GS2, GS3, GS4, GS5, HS6, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR1, OR3, OR4, OT1, OT3, OT4, SW1, SW10, SW13, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8, SW9, WD3, WT1, WT2
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.  

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 2

Buffer strips

Accepted Answer

CAHL4: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land

CIGL3: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on improved grassland

BFS1: 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land

BFS6: 6m to 12m habitat strip next to watercourses

CAHL4: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area (see ‘Where you can do this action’) and there’s updated wording to cover if a flood risk management authority carries out flood risk management works on that land (see ‘What to do’) – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£515 per hectare (ha) per year – calculate the hectarage by:

measuring the length of the buffer strip in metres (m)
multiplying that length by the relevant width (6m to 12m) to give the area in m²
dividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into ha

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a grass buffer strip:

with an intact grass sward throughout the year
without tracks, compacted areas or poaching

The purpose of this is to:

protect existing landscape and heritage features
provide habitat for wildlife
prevent pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, from being carried in surface water runoff, if located next to a watercourse
support an integrated pest management approach, if located close to cropped areas, which can help to reduce costs and improve farm resilience

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You can also do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area. This can include land which may have flood risk management works carried out on it by a flood risk management authority, such as Internal Drainage Boards.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must establish and maintain a grass strip on land entered into this action that’s:

at least 4m to 12m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 12m wide, but you’ll only be paid for the 12m width.
on the edge of arable and horticultural land

The grass strip must buffer an existing landscape feature, or certain heritage features, such as:

hedgerows
stone walls
woodland
ditches, rivers and streams
upstanding historic and archaeological features, such as earthworks, in-field structures or buildings

You can also locate the grass buffer strip next to:

trackways that channel run-off water directly into a watercourse
fence lines that form links between areas of wildlife habitat

You must make sure the grass strip is in addition to any regulatory requirements relating to buffer strips.

Once the grass strip is established, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

During late summer, after the bird breeding season, you must cut part of the grass strip’s width next to the edge of the crop or fallow land. You must do this along as much of the strip’s length as possible. This is to provide some shorter vegetation and a range of habitat types.

Flood risk management authorities, such as Internal Drainage Boards, may carry out flood risk management works on the grass buffer strip if it’s located in a flood risk area. If this happens, you must repair any damage to the grass buffer strip as soon as reasonably practicable.

You must not do any of the following on the grass buffer strip once it’s established:

use it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
apply fertilisers or manures
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

You can maintain an existing grass buffer strip to get paid for this action if it:

meet this action’s requirements
are not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW1 (4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land)

When to do it

You must:

establish the grass buffer strip within the first 12 months of this action’s duration
maintain the same area of grass buffer strip in each subsequent year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CIGL3: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on improved grassland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area (see ‘Where you can do this action’) and there’s updated wording to cover if a flood risk management authority carries out flood risk management works on that land (see ‘What to do’) – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£235 per hectare (ha) per year – calculate the hectarage by:

measuring the length of the buffer strip in metres (m)
multiplying that length by the relevant width (4m to 12m) to give the area in m²
dividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into ha

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a grass buffer strip:

with an intact grass sward throughout the year
without tracks, compacted areas or poaching

The purpose of this is to:

protect existing landscape and heritage features
provide habitat for wildlife
prevent pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, from being carried in surface water runoff, if located next to a watercourse
support an integrated pest management approach, if located close to cropped areas, which can help to reduce costs and improve farm resilience

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You can also do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area. This can include land which may have flood risk management works carried out on it by a flood risk management authority, such as Internal Drainage Boards.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must establish and maintain a grass strip on land entered into this action that’s:

at least 4m to 12m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 12m wide, but you’ll only be paid for the 12m width
on the edge of improved grassland

The grass strip must buffer an existing landscape feature, or certain heritage features, such as:

hedgerows
stone walls
woodland
ditches, rivers and streams
upstanding historic and archaeological features, such as earthworks, in-field structures or buildings

You can also locate the grass buffer strip next to:

trackways that channel run-off water directly into a watercourse
fence lines that form links between areas of wildlife habitat

You must make sure the grass strip is in addition to any regulatory requirements relating to buffer strips.

Once the grass strip is established, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You can graze the grass buffer strip with livestock, provided there’s an intact grass sward throughout the year, without tracks, compacted areas or poaching.

Flood risk management authorities, such as Internal Drainage Boards, may carry out flood risk management works on the grass buffer strip if it’s located in a flood risk area. If this happens, you must repair any damage to the grass buffer strip as soon as reasonably practicable.

You must not do the following on the grass buffer strip once it’s established:

cut it for hay or silage, so it can provide a refuge for farmland wildlife
use it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
apply any fertilisers or manures
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
use pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat for the control of injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

You can maintain an existing grass buffer strip to get paid for this action if it:

meet this action’s requirements
are not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW2 (4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland)

When to do it

You must:

establish the grass buffer strip within the first 12 months of this action’s duration
maintain the same area of grass buffer strip in each subsequent year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2, WBD7
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2, WBD7
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW18, CSW19, CSW20, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3, SW10
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

BFS1: 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area (see ‘Where you can do this action’) and there’s updated wording to cover if a flood risk management authority carries out flood risk management works on that land (see ‘What to do’) – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£707 per hectare (ha) per year – calculate the hectarage by:

measuring the length of the buffer strip in metres (m)
multiplying that length by the relevant width (12m to 24m) to give the area in m²
dividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into ha

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a grass buffer strip on land at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff, which:

is alongside a watercourse or pond
has an intact sward throughout the year, without tracks, compacted areas or poaching

The purpose of this is to:

protect watercourses
reduce the risk of potential pollutants, such as sediment, pesticides and nutrients, being transported to watercourses in surface water runoff
provide habitats for wildlife and form links to other habitats
support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

identified by you as being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you must keep written evidence of this
alongside a watercourse (ditch, pond, river or stream)
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You can also do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area. This can include land which may have flood risk management works carried out on it by a flood risk management authority, such as Internal Drainage Boards.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must establish and maintain a grass strip that’s:

at least 12m wide and up to 24m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 24m wide, but you’ll only be paid for the 24m width
alongside a ditch, pond, river or stream, to create a buffer between the edge of the crop or fallow land and the watercourse

You must make sure the grass strip is in addition to any regulatory requirements relating to buffer strips.

Once the grass strip is established, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

During late summer, after the bird breeding season, you must cut part of the grass strip’s width next to the edge of the crop or fallow land. You must do this along as much of the strip’s length as possible. This is to provide some shorter vegetation and a range of habitat types.

Flood risk management authorities, such as Internal Drainage Boards, may carry out flood risk management works on the grass buffer strip if it’s located in a flood risk area. If this happens, you must repair any damage to the grass buffer strip as soon as reasonably practicable.

You must not do the following on the established grass strip:

allow livestock to access it
use it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
apply fertilisers or manures
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

You can maintain an existing grass strip to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW4 (12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land)

When to do it

You must:

establish the grass buffer strip within the first 12 months of this action’s duration
maintain the grass buffer strip throughout each subsequent year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use the soil management plan produced for CSAM1 or SAM1 to identify this.

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

BFS6: 6m to 12m habitat strip next to watercourses (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

this action now has a 3-year duration – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£742 per hectare (ha) per year – calculate the hectarage by: 

measuring the length of the strip in metres (m) 
multiplying that length by the relevant width (6m to 12m) to give the area in m² 
dividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into ha

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that, throughout the year, there’s a habitat strip next to a watercourse:

with a mosaic of grassland vegetation and naturally colonised or planted native tree and scrub species, which are near the watercourse (riparian) and have an open canopy 
with tussocky grasses allowed to develop 
without livestock, tracks or compacted areas

The purpose of this is to: 

reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss 
increase water filtration 
slow down water runoff 
provide shade to the watercourse 
provide habitats and food for wildlife
form links between other habitats

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land next to a watercourse (ditch, river, stream or canal) located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Scrub	Scrub – ungrazeable	WO25
Scrub	Notional – scrub	NF03

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action 

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What to do

You must establish and maintain a habitat strip that:

is at least 6m wide and up to 12m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 12m wide, but you’ll only be paid for the 12m width
buffers a ditch, river, stream or canal

To establish the habitat strip, you must do one or a combination of both of the following:

allow trees and scrub to regenerate naturally
plant a variety of native riparian tree and shrub species

You can remove soil compaction to prepare land for this action (if needed). 

Once the habitat strip is established, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes: 

cutting woody growth to create and maintain an open canopy along the bank so there’s dappled shade for the watercourse
controlling the spread of injurious weeds, nettles or invasive non-native species
removing cut material (when you’re cutting) to control woody growth or the spread of injurious weeds, nettles or invasive non-native species
leaving any standing and fallen deadwood in place, if it’s safe to do so
leaving any mature and veteran trees in place, if it’s safe to do so

You must not do the following on the habitat strip: 

allow livestock to access it
use it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
apply fertilisers or manures
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
create or maintain hard standing, boardwalks or closely mown access routes running parallel to the ditch, river, stream or canal

In addition, you must not cut or remove vegetation unless you’re doing it to:

control woody growth or the spread of injurious weeds, nettles or invasive non-native species
maintain existing access routes that are at an angle of 90 degrees to the watercourse
help establish the habitat strip on previously arable land

You can maintain an existing habitat strip to get paid for this action if it: 

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW11 (riparian management strip)

When to do it

You must: 

establish the habitat strip within the first 12 months of this action’s duration
maintain the habitat strip throughout each subsequent year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CPAC1, CSP9
CS options	OR1, OT1, SW15, SW16
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 3

Farmland wildlife (arable or horticultural land)

Accepted Answer

AHW2: Supplementary winter bird food

AHW3: Beetle banks

AHW4: Skylark plots

AHW5: Nesting plots for lapwing

AHW6: Basic overwinter stubble

AHW7: Enhanced overwinter stubble

AHW8: Whole crop spring cereals and overwinter stubble

AHW9: Unharvested cereal headland

AHW10: Low input harvested cereal crop

AHW11: Cultivated areas for arable plants

CAHL1: Pollen and nectar flower mix

CAHL2: Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land

CAHL3: Grassy field corners or blocks

AHW2: Supplementary winter bird food (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as SFI26 action CAHL2: Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land
if you’re doing this supplemental action on organic land, check with your organic control body whether a derogation is required to use non-organic seed
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£732 per tonne per year – maximum of 1 tonne of supplementary winter bird food (action AHW2) for every 2 hectares (ha) of winter bird food (action CAHL2 in the SFI26 offer).

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that over the winter until mid-spring there’s a mix of seeds spread on the ground at multiple feeding areas.

The purpose of this is to provide seed-eating farmland birds with supplementary food when:

seed is in short supply in the late winter period (known as the hungry gap)
their breeding season starts in early spring

Where you can do this action

You can only apply for this action if CAHL2 (winter bird food on arable and horticultural land) is included in the same SFI26 application.

You must do this action on land that’s:

firm and free draining, such as farm tracks or hard standing areas
close to areas of existing winter bird food, enhanced overwinter stubbles or game cover

What to do

You must spread a winter supplementary feeding mix in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim, including:

dividing the total weight of mix as equally as possible between the multiple feeding areas
spreading the mix at least once a week from over the winter until mid-spring in the following year (usually from early December to late April)

You must use a winter supplementary feeding seed mix that contains both:

cereals (not maize) – these should make up no more than 70% of the total mix by weight
small non-cereal seeds – these should make up at least 30% of the total mix by weight, with no individual species being more than 50% of the non-cereal element by weight

The small non-cereal seeds element must contain at least 3 of the following species:

canary seed
linseed
oilseed rape
red millet
sunflowers
white millet

If you’re doing this supplemental action on land which is registered as ‘fully organic’ or ‘in conversion’, check with your organic control body whether a derogation is required to use non-organic seed.

You must not:

use feed hoppers to supply more than around 10% of the seed mix during each feeding period (from later winter to mid-spring)
use tailings (small seeds and chaff removed from the harvested crops) in the seed mix

You must keep a written ‘feeding diary’ which includes:

details of the mix used, including the weight of the cereals and small non-cereal seeds elements and cost
feeding dates
method of feeding – spreading or hopper
amount fed
location of feeding areas

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If 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.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do this action until mid-spring, or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written feeding diary. This can be recorded on paper or electronically. You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI26 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2024 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2023 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CSHT actions from 2025	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CS options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
ES options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action

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 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW3: Beetle banks (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£764 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s an in-field raised grassy bank, with tussocky grass allowed to develop.

The purpose of this is to:

provide nesting and foraging habitats for ground-nesting birds, small mammals and insects
help slow down or stop soil erosion
support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area that contains an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must establish an in-field beetle bank by:

creating a raised earth ridge
sowing a mixture of fine-leaved grasses, such as red fescue, together with some tussock forming varieties like tall fescue, timothy and cocksfoot

You can leave gaps of up to around 40m at each end of the beetle bank to allow machinery access.

Once the grassy mix on the beetle bank is established, you must maintain it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You must not apply:

any fertilisers, manures or lime
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

You can maintain an existing beetle bank to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as Countryside Stewardship option AB3 (beetle banks)

When to do it

You must:

establish the beetle bank within 12 months of this action’s start date
maintain the beetle bank throughout each subsequent year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW4: Skylark plots

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£11 per plot per year (minimum 2 plots per hectare (ha))

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are fallow plots for nesting skylarks within a winter cereal crop, until the crop is harvested in the summer.

The purpose of this is to provide skylarks with suitable nesting habitats in winter cereal crops throughout their breeding season.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

identified by you as not being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you must keep evidence of this
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You must not do this action on land that’s bounded by tree lines or adjacent to woods, unless the land parcel is larger than 10ha. This is because it increases the risks of predator attack.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Not applicable – you’ll apply per plot (minimum 2 plots per ha).

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

During the autumn and winter, you must create fallow plots within a winter cereal crop.

For each land parcel where you do this action, there must be at least 2 plots per ha of winter cereal crop you’re growing. For example, if you’re growing 5ha of winter cereal crop in a land parcel, there must be at least 10 plots.

You must make sure that the plots are large enough to meet this action’s aim. This will usually mean they need to be at least 3 metres (m) wide and around 16 square m in area.

You must retain the fallow plots until the winter cereal crop is harvested in the summer.

You must not locate the fallow plots in tramlines, boundaries or margins, as this increases risk of attacks on skylark nests by predators.

You can maintain an existing skylark plot to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as Countryside Stewardship option AB4 (skylark plots)

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If this action’s start date means it’s too late to establish the skylark plot, you must do this within 12 months of this action’s start date.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do this action until the winter cereal crop is harvested, or this action’s end date whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is not at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use the soil management plan you’ve already produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 to identify this.

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	OFC3, OFM4
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFM4
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	No CSHT actions
CS options	HS3, HS9, OR3, OT3
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW5: Nesting plots for lapwing (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£765 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are fallow cultivated plots within an arable crop which:

have enough bare ground for nesting lapwings
are present from early spring until the arable crop is harvested in the summer

The purpose of this is to provide:

nesting sites for lapwing
habitats for other declining farmland birds, farmland wildlife and important arable plants

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

identified by you as not being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you must keep evidence of this
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You must not do this action on land that’s within around:

100 metres (m) of woods, in-field and hedgerow trees, buildings, overhead power lines, main road and public rights of way
200m of wind turbines

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area that contains an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

By early spring, you must establish a fallow cultivated plot within the arable crop.

You must manage the fallow cultivated plot in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes managing natural regeneration if it means there is not enough bare ground for nesting birds.

You must retain the fallow cultivated plot until the arable crop is harvested in the summer and the bird nesting season is complete (usually this will be late July).

You can maintain an existing lapwing plot to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as Countryside Stewardship option AB5 (lapwing plots)

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If this action’s start date means it’s too late to establish the lapwing plot, you must do this within 12 months of this action’s start date.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do this action until the arable crop is harvested in the summer or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is not at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use the soil management plan you’ve already produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 to identify this.

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AHW6, AHW7, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AHW6, AHW7, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB2, CAB6, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB11, AB14, AB15, AB2, AB6, HS3, HS9, OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW6: Basic overwinter stubble

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£58 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a post-harvest stubble remaining over the autumn and winter months.

The purpose of this is to provide:

a winter food source for seed-eating farmland birds
foraging habitats for farmland wildlife

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

identified by you as not being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you must keep evidence of this
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow cereals (not maize or sorghum), oilseed rape or linseed	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means it can either:

move location within your crop rotation for the second and third years of this action’s duration
remain at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must not apply pre-harvest desiccants to the cereal crop, oilseed rape or linseed.

After harvest, you must leave the stubble from a cereal crop, oilseed rape or linseed until around mid-February.

You must not do the following on the stubble area:

top or graze it
apply post-harvest herbicides
apply any fertilisers, manures or lime

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If 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.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do the action until around mid-February or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is not at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use the soil management plan you’ve already produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 to identify this.

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, CIPM4, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, CIPM1, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB11, CAB14, CAB5, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB10, AB11, AB14, AB15, AB5, AB7, AB9, HS3, OR3, OT3, SW5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW7: Enhanced overwinter stubble (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

this action is now a 25% ‘limited area’ action – this only applies to this action in SFI26 agreements, but the 25% limit applies across all your SFI agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£589 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a post-harvest stubble remaining during the autumn, winter, spring and summer months.

The purpose of this is to provide:

a winter food source for seed-eating farmland birds
spring and summer foraging and nesting habitats for other farmland birds, and habitats for other farmland wildlife

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow cereals (not maize or sorghum), oilseed rape or linseed	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This is a rotational action – this means you must move its location within your crop rotation for the second and third years of this action’s duration.

What to do

After harvest, you must leave the stubble from a cereal crop, oilseed rape or linseed until around mid-summer in the following year.

You must not apply pre-harvest desiccants to the cereal crop, oilseed rape or linseed.

You must not do the following on the stubble area:

top or graze it
apply any pesticides, except herbicides to control grass weeds by spraying the affected area from around mid-May
apply any fertilisers, manures or lime

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If 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.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do the action until around mid-summer or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is not at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use the soil management plan you’ve already produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 to identify this.

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW5, CIPM4, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW5, CIPM1, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB5, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB11, AB14, AB15, AB5, HS3, OR3, OT3
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW8: Whole crop spring cereals and overwinter stubble

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£596 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that:

a spring cereal crop is harvested as whole crop silage (grain and straw together)
the stubble is left over the autumn and winter months

The purpose of this is to provide:

late summer, autumn and winter foraging sites for declining and localised farmland birds, small mammals and pollinator species
overwinter habitat for insects and seed-eating farmland birds

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

identified by you as not being at risk of soil erosion or runoff – you must keep evidence of this
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must:

establish a spring cereal crop (not maize or sorghum)
harvest the cereal crop as whole crop silage
remove the grain and straw from the land
after harvest, leave the stubble over the autumn and winter months

As long as this action’s aim can reasonably be expected to be achieved, you can:

undersow a seed mix into the spring cereal crop
use a blend or mix of cereals

You must not apply insecticides to the spring cereal crop after around mid-March, until it’s harvested.

You must not do the following on the stubble area:

top or graze it
apply any fertilisers, manures or lime

You must not apply herbicides to the area entered into this action, apart from those containing the following permitted active ingredients:

amidosulfuron
clodinafop-propargyl
fenoxaprop-P-ethyl
pinoxaden
tri-allate

It may not be possible for you to use these permitted active ingredients on all crops. It’s your responsibility to confirm whether herbicides are approved for use on the affected crop.

You can use an existing spring cereal crop to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme action or option, such as CS option AB7 (whole crop cereals)

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If this action’s start date means it’s too late to establish the cereal crop, you must establish it within 12 months of this action’s start date.

In 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.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is not at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use the soil management plan you’ve already produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 to identify this.

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS3, HS9, OR3, OT3, SW5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW9: Unharvested cereal headland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

this action can only be done on headlands, and the strips or plots must be no more than around 24 metres wide – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£1,072 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s an open-structured, spring cereal crop which:

is growing in strips or plots on the outer edges of the land parcel
remains unharvested during the summer, autumn and winter months

The purpose of this is to:

provide a summer food source for farmland birds and insects
help establish a range of arable plants and other broad-leaved plants
provide a habitat that’s present over the winter for insects and food for seed-eating farmland birds

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

a ‘headland’ (the outer edges of the land parcel which are usually used to turn farm equipment during field operations, such as planting)
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow spring cereal crops (not maize)	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This is a rotational or static action – this means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish a spring cereal crop (not maize) in strips or plots on the headland. The strips or plots must not be more than around 24 metres wide.

You must sow the cereal crop at a seed rate that’s reduced to a level that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

As long as this action’s aim can reasonably be expected to be achieved, you can:

undersow a seed mix into the spring cereal crop
use a blend or mix of cereals

Once the cereal crop strips or plots are established, you must manage them in a way, and for a period of time, that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This will usually mean keeping them until around mid-February in the year after establishment.

You must not apply the following to the strips or plots:

any fertilisers, manures or lime
insecticides after around mid-March

You must not apply herbicides apart from those containing the following permitted active ingredients:

amidosulfuron
clodinafop-propargyl
fenoxaprop-P-ethyl
pinoxaden
tri-allate

It may not be possible for you to use these permitted active ingredients on all crops. It’s your responsibility to confirm whether herbicides are approved for use on the affected crop.

You can use an existing spring cereal crop strip or plot to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme action or option, such as CS option AB7 (whole crop cereals)

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If this action’s start date means it’s too late to establish the cereal crop, you must establish it within 12 months of this action’s start date.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do the action until the end of the winter months or this action’s end date whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFM4, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFM4, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS3, HS9, OR3, OT3, SW5, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW10: Low input harvested cereal crop

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£354 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a low input, open-structured cereal crop growing:

in strips or plots
during the spring and summer months until it’s harvested

The purpose of this is to:

enable wildflower species to grow within the crop
provide summer foraging sites for declining and localised farmland birds, such as yellowhammer and reed bunting
provide habitat for skylarks, farmland wildlife and pollinator species

Where you can do this action

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops (not maize)	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This is a rotational or static action – this means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish an autumn or spring cereal crop (not maize):

in strips or plots
at a seed rate that’s reduced to a level that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

As long as this action’s aim can reasonably be expected to be achieved, you can:

undersow a seed mix into the spring cereal crop
use a blend or mix of cereals

Once the cereal crop is established, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim until it’s harvested.

You must not:

harvest the crop before it can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim (usually not before around mid-July)
apply insecticides after around mid-March, until the crop is harvested

You must not apply herbicides, apart from those containing the following permitted active ingredients:

amidosulfuron
clodinafop-propargyl
fenoxaprop-P-ethyl
pinoxaden
tri-allate

It may not be possible for you to use these permitted active ingredients on all crops. It’s your responsibility to confirm whether herbicides are approved for use on the affected crop.

You can use an existing cereal crop to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme action or option, such as CS option AB14 (harvested low input cereal)

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If this action’s start date means it’s too late to establish the cereal crop, you must establish it within 12 months of this action’s start date.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do this action until the crop is harvested or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CSAM2, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB2, CAB5, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB2, AB5, AB6, AB9, HS3, HS9, OP1, OR3, OT3, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

AHW11: Cultivated areas for arable plants (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£660 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are fallow cultivated margins or plots with:

a fine surface suitable for wild arable plants to establish from the soil seed bank when they’re cultivated in the spring or autumn
natural vegetative cover throughout the growing season until the end of the summer

The purpose of this is to:

allow scarce and declining wild arable plants to increase their populations over time
provide areas of less densely vegetated ground for insects, such as bumblebees, solitary bees and hoverflies
provide summer foraging habitats for farmland birds, such as grey partridge and turtle dove

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for details (including a list of the ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must create a fallow margin or plot by cultivating it in the spring or autumn in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You must manage the fallow cultivated margin or plot in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You must not do the following on the fallow cultivated margin or plot:

disturb it before the end of the summer months (usually around the end of August)
use it as regular access tracks for vehicles
apply any fertilisers, manures or lime
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

You can use an existing cultivated fallow margin or plot to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme action or option, such as CS option AB11 (cultivated areas for arable plants)

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If this action’s start date means it’s too late for you to create the fallow margin or plot, you must create it within 12 months of its start date.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do the action until the end of the summer months or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB2, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB2, AB9, HS3, HS9, OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4, SW5, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CAHL1: Pollen and nectar flower mix (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£739 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s an established pollen and nectar flower mix which:

is growing in blocks or strips
produces areas of flowering plants from late spring and during the summer months

The purpose of this is to:

provide food for beneficial pollinators, such as bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies
encourage natural crop pest predators as part of an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural and non-horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish a nectar flower mix as a block or strip on land entered into this action.

You must use a grass-free seed mix which includes at least 6 flower species, with no individual species being more than 50% of the total mix by weight.

The seed mix must include at least 2 of the following flower species:

common knapweed
musk mallow
oxeye daisy
wild carrot
yarrow

Once the pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip is established (usually from the second spring after sowing), you must maintain it. To do this, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You must not do the following on the established pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip:

cut or graze it with livestock in a way that means this action’s aim cannot reasonably be expected to be achieved
use it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
apply any fertilisers and manures
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

You can maintain an existing pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option AB1 (nectar flower mix)

When to do it

You must:

establish the pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip between early spring and early autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start date
maintain the mix at the same location for a period of time that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim – this will usually be until the end of the second summer after sowing
after this period of time, re-establish the pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip between early spring and early autumn (either at the same location or a different location) and maintain it until this action’s end date

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix used
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CAHL2: Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£853 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s an established winter bird food mix growing in blocks or strips, with plants that:

grow and flower during the spring and summer months
set seed to produce a supply of small seeds from late autumn until late winter

The purpose of this is to:

provide food resources for smaller farmland birds, especially in late autumn and winter
encourage flowering plants in the summer, which will benefit insects including bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies
support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural and non-horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish a winter bird food mix as a block or strip on land entered into this action.

You must use a seed mix which includes at least 6 small seed-bearing crops, which are suitable for smaller farmland bird species. The mix must not include:

artichokes
reed canary grass
giant and intermediate sorghum
maize
miscanthus
sweet clover
tic beans

If you sow an annual mix, it can include a range of cereals, brassicas or other small-seeded crops. If you sow a 2-year mix, it can also include biennial crops such as kale, stubble turnip or teasel.

Once the winter bird food mix block or strip is established, you must maintain it. To do this, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You must re-establish a 1-year mix annually and 2-year mixes every other year, so they continue to produce an extended supply of small seeds. This can be at the same location or a different location.

You must not use the winter bird food mix block or strip for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery).

You can maintain an existing winter bird food mix block or strip to get paid for this action, if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option AB9 (winter bird food)

When to do it

You must:

establish the winter bird food mix block or strip in time for it to flower in the first summer after sowing (usually this means by the end of June)
maintain the mix at the same location until late winter (usually around the end of February) in the year after it was sown (for 1-year mixes) or the following year (for 2-year mixes)

If this action’s start date means it’s too late to establish the winter bird food mix, you must establish it within 12 months of your action’s start date.

If you establish the winter bird food mix block or strip after the end of June, you must maintain it at the same location for 2 consecutive winters in order to achieve this action’s aim.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do this action either until late winter, or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix used
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM3, CIPM4, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS3, HS9, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CAHL3: Grassy field corners or blocks (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£590 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a grassy field corner or block with:

an intact grass sward throughout the year, without tracks, compacted areas or poaching
tussocky grass allowed to develop

The purpose of this is to:

provide year-round habitat for a range of wildlife
support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural and non-horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must establish and maintain grassy field corners or blocks on arable and horticultural land entered into this action.

To establish the grassy field corners or blocks you must either sow them or allow the areas to naturally regenerate.

During the first 12 months after sowing them, or allowing them to naturally regenerate, you can regularly cut or graze them to:

control annual weeds
encourage new grass shoots to develop

The grassy field corners or blocks will usually be established around 12 months after they’re sown or allowed to regenerate naturally.

Once established, you must maintain the grassy field corners or blocks. To do this, you must manage them in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You must not do the following on the grassy field corners or blocks once they’re established:

graze them with livestock in a way that means this action’s aim cannot reasonably be achieved
cut them, except for localised cutting to control injurious weeds or invasive non-natives, soft and hard rush, nettles or bracken
use them for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
carry out activities that may disturb breeding birds or damage nests, as birds, nests and eggs are protected by law
apply any fertilisers, manures or lime
use pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

You can maintain existing grassy field corners or blocks to get paid for this action, if they meet this action’s requirements.

When to do it

You must:

establish the grassy field corners or blocks within 12 months of this action’s start date
maintain the same area of grassy field corners or blocks in each subsequent year of this action’s 3-year duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do with this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 4

Farmland wildlife (grassland)

Accepted Answer

GRH7: Haymaking supplement

GRH8: Haymaking supplement (late cut)

GRH10: Lenient grazing supplement

GRH12: Manage rough grassland for upland breeding waders

CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs

CIGL1: Take grassland field corners or blocks out of management

CIGL2: Winter bird food on improved grassland

SCR1: Create scrub and open habitat mosaics

SCR2: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics

GRH7: Haymaking supplement (updated for SFI26)

Changes made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version): You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as base action CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£157 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a crop of field-dried hay, grown and harvested, with wildflowers and grasses allowed to flower and set seed.

The purpose of this is to:

help to conserve plants in traditionally managed hay meadows
provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insects
improve water quality
maintain traditional landscape character

Where you can do this action

You can do this supplemental action on eligible land you enter into base action CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs. You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as the base action.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as the base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as the base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same or less than the area you enter into the base action.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This this means that after the first year of this action’s duration you can either:

move its location around the land entered into the relevant base action for subsequent years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year

What to do

You must not graze or cut the sward for a continuous period of at least 8 weeks during the spring and summer months before you harvest the hay crop. This is to allow the sward to develop flowering grasses and wildflowers.

The minimum 8-week period required by this supplemental action replaces the minimum 7-week period in base action CLIG3. This applies to the area of land entered into this supplemental action.

You must allow the flowers and grasses to set seed. This will usually mean you must harvest the hay crop no earlier than:

late June on land outside the severely disadvantaged areas (SDAs)
mid-July on land in an SDA, where grass grows more slowly

When you harvest the hay crop, you must:

in each land parcel, leave an uncut margin around at least half of the edge of the area entered into this action to provide shelter for invertebrates and small mammals
leave the cut hay crop to field dry, turning it at least once
remove the hay crop once it is field dry – it can be unwrapped or wrapped

After you’ve removed the hay crop, you must manage the sward in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve the relevant base action’s aim. This will usually be by aftermath grazing or taking a second cut.

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
a grazing activity record if livestock are grazed on the area
photographs and other documentation to show management undertaken

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
SFI 2024 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
SFI 2023 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
CSHT actions from 2025	Same as the SFI26 base action
CS options	Same as the SFI26 base action
ES options	Same as the SFI26 base action

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.

Other supplemental actions you can apply for with this supplemental action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM3: ‘Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)’ on the same area as this supplemental action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

GRH8: Haymaking supplement (late cut) (updated for SFI26)

Changes made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version): You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as base action CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£187 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This supplemental action’s aim is that a crop of herb-rich hay is made, with wildflowers and grasses allowed to flower and set seed.

The purpose of this is to:

support later flowering plant species
allow wading birds, such as curlew, to nest successfully
help to conserve plants seen in traditionally managed hay meadows
provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insects
improve water quality
maintain traditional landscape character

Where you can do this action

You can do this supplemental action on eligible land you enter into base action CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs. You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as the base action.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as the base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as the base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same or less than the base action.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means that after the first year of this action’s duration you can either:

move its location around the land entered into the relevant base action for subsequent years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year

What to do

You must not graze or cut the sward for at least 9 weeks during the spring and summer months before you harvest the hay crop. This is to allow the sward to develop flowering grasses and wildflowers.

For land entered into this supplemental action, the minimum 9-week period replaces the:

minimum 7-week period required by base action CLIG3
minimum 8-week period required by base action GRH6

You must allow the flowers and grasses to set seed. This will usually mean harvesting the hay crop no earlier than mid-July

You must:

in each land parcel, leave an uncut margin around at least half of the edge of the area entered into this action when you harvest the crop to provide shelter for invertebrates and small mammals
leave the cut hay crop to field dry, turning it at least once
remove the hay crop once it is field dry – it can be unwrapped or wrapped

After you’ve removed the hay crop, you must manage the sward in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve the relevant base action’s aim. This will usually be by aftermath grazing or taking a second cut.

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
a grazing activity record if livestock are grazed on the area
photographs and other documentation to show management undertaken

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
SFI 2024 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
SFI 2023 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
CSHT actions from 2025	Same as the SFI26 base action
CS options	Same as the SFI26 base action
ES options	Same as the SFI26 base action

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.

Other supplemental actions you can apply for with this supplemental action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM3: ‘Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)’ on the same area as this supplemental action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

GRH10: Lenient grazing supplement (updated for SFI26)

Changes made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version): You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as base action CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£28 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This supplemental action’s aim is that there’s a sward with a range of shorter and taller grasses.

The purpose of this is to:

create habitats for spiders and other insects (including grasshoppers and beetles)
provide spring and summer invertebrate food for birds (such as yellowhammers, reed buntings and skylarks)

Where you can do this action

You can do this supplemental action on eligible land you enter into the base action CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs. You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as the base action.

The land parcel must meet one of the following conditions:

have at least one boundary that’s a hedgerow
there’s scrub cover close to the parcel (usually around 200 metres away)

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as the base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as the base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same as the base action.

Rotational or static action

Same as the base action.

What to do

During the growing season, you must manage the sward in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes lightly grazing it with cattle, or a combination of cattle and sheep.

You must not cut the area for hay or silage.

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

stocking records to show grazing activity at a land parcel level
field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation to show management undertaken

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
SFI 2024 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
SFI 2023 actions	Same as the SFI26 base action
CSHT actions from 2025	Same as the SFI26 base action
CS options	Same as the SFI26 base action
ES options	Same as the SFI26 base action

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.

Other supplemental actions you can apply for with this supplemental action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM3: ‘Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)’ on the same area as this supplemental action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

GRH12: Manage rough grassland for upland breeding waders

This action replaces GRH1: Manage rough grazing for birds which was available in the SFI24 offer.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£203 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s rough grassland for upland breeding waders (such as lapwing, snipe, redshank and curlew) with:

minimal disturbance by livestock grazing during the upland wader breeding season to avoid breeding birds being disturbed or nests damaged
varied sward heights and structure, including areas of short grass, for the upland breeding wader bird species on your land (or likely to use your land) to nest and feed during their breeding season
areas of damp ground and wet features during spring and early summer
minimal scrub, bracken and dense rush

The purpose is to provide suitable habitats and conditions to allow upland breeding waders to nest and chicks to fledge successfully.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located within a less favoured area (LFA) below the moorland line that’s:

a land parcel of at least 2ha
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Some non-agricultural features and areas within a mainly eligible agricultural land parcel (see additional note)	Relevant land cover, as shown in annex D of the SFI26 scheme information	Relevant land use code, as shown in annex D of the SFI26 scheme information

Note: non-agricultural features and areas may be included on land that’s mainly agricultural if it’s possible to achieve this action’s aim on them, for example:

rivers and streams
ponds
fen marsh and swamp
heathland and bracken
bog
drains, ditches or dykes
scattered areas of rock, bracken, scrub or water
tracks with a natural surface

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

For the purpose of this action, the upland wader breeding season is during spring and early summer (usually between mid-March and late July).

Livestock grazing activities

You must graze the land entered into this action with livestock in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. To do this, you must:

make sure the livestock density across the land entered into this action is not more than 0.6 grazing livestock units (GLU) per ha during the upland wader breeding season
graze the land after the upland wader breeding season at a livestock density that will remove the year’s grass growth to achieve suitable sward conditions for upland waders to nest and feed by the following spring

To convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:

Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU
Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU
Lowland ewe and lamb, or ram – 0.12 GLU
Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
Goat – 0.12 GLU
Pony or donkey – 0.8 GLU
Horse – 1.0 GLU

Lambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation. They are included in the figures shown for ‘ewe and lamb’.

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action. It will explain how to calculate the livestock density.

Produce a written stocking record

Each year, you must produce a written stocking record for each land parcel entered into this action. It must include:

each land parcel reference number and hectarage
monthly numbers of livestock which grazed the land parcel including their type and age bracket

If you manage several adjacent land parcels as one grazing unit, you can keep one stocking record for that grazing unit. You must include all the land parcel reference numbers which comprise that grazing unit. This can be a paper-based or electronic record.

Other land management activities

You must also do the following activities on land entered into this action:

manage dense rushes, so any stands of hard or soft rushes are distributed in patches across each land parcel, and they do not cover more than around 20% of each land parcel
manage scrub and bracken, so their cover across each land parcel is minimal

You must not:

cut the grassland, unless you’re cutting to manage dense rushes, scrub or bracken (which you must not do during the upland wader breeding season)
use machinery during the upland wader breeding season, unless you’re using vehicles to check on livestock – in this case, you must only drive around the edge of the land parcel or use an established track to minimise disturbance to ground nesting birds
apply digestate or any other industrial by-product, including paper waste
apply any fertilisers and manures
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, or nettles
allow areas of scrub to develop on land containing historic or archaeological features
carry out drainage works or change existing drainage if it will drain water away from the parcel – you can block existing drains if this will retain the wetness of the land to achieve the action’s aim – you must obtain any necessary consents from the Environment Agency, Local Lead Local Flood Authority or Internal Drainage Board before you do this
carry out supplementary feeding of livestock except for non-energy based mineral licks

Supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions

You 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:

move the feeding sites around the land entered into this action to minimise damage to the soil and vegetation
avoid transferring undesirable species which are in the hay or haylage, such as docks or rosebay willowherb

You must not:

feed livestock on or next to historic and archaeological features, steep slopes or footpaths
use troughs or feeders

You 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.

You can maintain an existing area of rough grazing to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking record. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation to show management undertaken

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	OFC2, OFM2
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC2, OFM2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR2, OT2, OT6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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 SFI scheme information for more details.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application.

If you apply for SPM5, you can also apply for supplemental action UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) or UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU).

CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

when you enter the total available area into this action that only applies at the point of application – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 or SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£151 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s grassland which produces a sward with:

flowering grasses and wildflowers from late spring and during the summer months
a variety of plant heights by autumn
some covering of flowering grasses and wildflowers left to go to seed
tussocky grass allowed to develop

The purpose of this is to:

provide nectar and shelter for invertebrates and a food supply for farmland birds
support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas
minimise nutrients being carried in surface water runoff to watercourses

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Improved and low input permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You can apply for this action on a different area in the same land parcel if you:

also apply for CIGL1: Take grassland field corners or blocks out of management or you already have it in an existing SFI24 agreement
already have GRH6: Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland (endorsed) in an existing SFI24 agreement

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must minimise the use of nutrient inputs on the grassland entered into this action by applying no more than either:

12 tonnes per ha of cattle farmyard manure
equivalent amounts of available nutrients as fertiliser or in other organic manures as an alternative to cattle farmyard manure

You must also do the following on the grassland:

graze it with livestock or cut it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
minimise bare ground, so the soil is covered by vegetation and is not directly exposed to the elements

There must be an intact grass sward throughout the year, without compacted areas or poaching. You can carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on the grassland, but you must make sure this does not cause poaching.

You must not do the following on the grassland:

If you cut the grassland for conserved forage, you must:

not graze or cut it for a continuous period of at least 7 weeks during the spring and summer months before taking the forage cut, to allow the sward to develop flowering grasses and wildflowers
in each land parcel, leave an uncut margin around the edge of the area entered into this action when it’s cut for conserved forage, to help provide shelter for invertebrates

After you’ve cut the area for conserved forage, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

If you’re already managing grassland with very low nutrient inputs, you can use it to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme agreement option, such as CS option GS2 (permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs)) or GS5 (permanent grassland with very low inputs (SDAs))

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do with this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW15, CSW16, CSW18, CSW20, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OR2, OT1, OT2, SW15, SW16
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for the following supplemental actions on land you enter into this base action in the same SFI26 application:

GRH7: Hay making supplement – you can also apply for SPM3 on the same area as GRH7
GRH8: Hay making supplement (late cut) – you can also apply for SPM3 on the same area as GRH8
GRH10: Lenient grazing supplement – you can also apply for SPM3 on the same area as GRH10
SPM3: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%) – you can also apply for GRH7, GRH8 or GRH10 on the same area as SPM3

CIGL1: Take grassland field corners or blocks out of management (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 or SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£333 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are grassland field corners or blocks taken out of management, so tussocky grass can develop.

The purpose of this is to:

provide year-round habitat for a range of wildlife
support an IPM approach if located close to cropped areas

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of the ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must leave grassland field corners or blocks entered into this action unmanaged, so they’re uncut and un-grazed.

You must not do the following on the unmanaged grassland field corners or blocks:

You can maintain existing grassy field corners or blocks to get paid for this action, if they meet this action’s requirements.

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do with this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CIGL2: Winter bird food on improved grassland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 or SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£515 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s improved grassland, which is maintained so it’s left to go to seed during the autumn and winter months.

The purpose of this is to provide winter food for farmland birds.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of the ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must maintain improved grassland entered into this action.

To maintain the improved grassland, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes:

cutting it for silage or hay in a way that allows it to go to seed
leaving it un-grazed after the final cut for silage and hay

If you’re already maintaining improved grassland, you can use it to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option GS3 (ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds)

When to do it

If you’re doing this action on the same area of land for its 3-year duration, you must:

start maintaining the improved grassland within 12 months of this action’s start date
continue to maintain the area of improved grassland in each subsequent year of this action’s duration

If you’re rotating this action around your farm, each year of this action’s duration you must do the actions for a period of time that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do with this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS3, HS9, OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

SCR1: Create scrub and open habitat mosaics (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

this action now has a 3-year duration – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements
updated wording to explain land which is not suitable for this action (see ‘Where you can do this action’ – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid 

£588 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim 

This action’s aim is that there’s a mosaic of scrub, grasses and other flowering plants with: 

scrub cover allowed to develop, and managed so the mosaic is maintained 
a variety of species, heights, and structure 
growing trees and deadwood, where relevant

The purpose of this is to: 

provide pollen and nectar sources for beneficial insects, such as bumble bees, solitary bees and butterflies 
provide food and habitats for birds and mammals 
improve the quality of woodland edges and transitions between other habitats
protect soils and watercourses by reducing soil erosion

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located below the moorland line that’s:

got existing scrub cover on less than 10% of its area 
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps 
declared with a land use code that’s compatible with the eligible land cover

This action is not suitable for: 

peatland, because creating scrub could damage it
land used by breeding waders, because they need open grassland habitat

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Scrub	Scrub – ungrazeable	WO25
Scrub	Notional – scrub	NF03

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter any area that’s designated as an SSSI into this action.

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area that contains an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action 

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What to do 

You must manage the area entered into this action in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim, including: 

allowing scrub to regenerate naturally or by planting a variety of native scrub species, or a combination of both, so scrub cover develops on between 10% and 60% of the area 
controlling wild herbivores to allow scrub to develop and establish
leaving any standing and fallen deadwood in place, if it’s safe to do so 
leaving any mature and veteran trees in place, if it’s safe to do so 
making sure tree guards do not damage growing trees, and removing them once trees are established

You must not: 

cut vegetation, unless it’s to control injurious weeds and invasive non-native species including non-native trees, soft and hard rush, nettles or bracken 
graze with livestock 
apply fertilisers, manures or lime
apply pesticides, except for herbicides, to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
plough, cultivate, re-seed, harrow or roll 
release gamebirds 
use supplementary feed for game birds 
carry out drainage works or change existing drainage, without written permission before work starts

When to do it 

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration. 

How to do it 

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’ 
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep 

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as: 

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices 
photographs or other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action 

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	No SFI 2026 revenue actions
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	No CS revenue options
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

SCR2: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

updated wording to explain which land is not suitable for this action (see ‘Where you can do this action’ – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£350 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim 

This action’s aim is that there’s a mosaic of scrub, grasses and other flowering plants, with:

scrub cover managed to maintain the mosaic
a variety of shrub species, heights and structure 
growing trees and deadwood, where relevant

The purpose of this is to: 

provide pollen and nectar sources for beneficial insects, such as bumble bees, solitary bees and butterflies 
provide food and habitats for birds and mammals 
improve the quality of woodland edges and transitions between other habitats 
protect soils and watercourses by reducing soil erosion

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located below the moorland line that’s: 

got existing scrub cover on at least 10% of its area 
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps 
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

This action is not suitable for: 

peatland, because creating scrub could damage it
land used by breeding waders, because they need open grassland habitat

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Scrub	Scrub – ungrazeable	WO25
Scrub	Notional – scrub	NF03

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter any area that’s designated as an SSSI into this action.

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area that contains an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action 

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must manage the area entered into this action in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim, including: 

managing the scrub and non-woody grassy vegetation by patchy cutting or light cattle grazing to maintain the mosaic 
managing the scrub so there’s dense and scattered scrub on between 10% and 60% of the area, as well as open areas 
managing the non-woody vegetation in a way that allows for scrub regeneration and produces a varied sward 
leaving any standing and fallen deadwood in place, if it’s safe to do so 
leaving any mature and veteran trees in place, if it’s safe to do so

You must not: 

graze or cut the area in a way that means this action’s aim cannot reasonably be achieved 
graze the area with sheep, because their grazing habits would not achieve this action’s aim
plough, cultivate or re-seed
carry out mechanical activities, such as cutting, in a way that may disturb breeding birds or damage nests, as birds, nests and eggs are protected by law
apply fertilisers, manures or lime
apply pesticides, except for herbicides, to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
release gamebirds
carry out supplementary feeding of grazing livestock or game birds, except for providing non-energy mineral blocks
carry out drainage works or change existing drainage, without written permission before work starts

You can maintain an existing area of scrub and open habitat mosaics to get paid for this action if it: 

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as Countryside Stewardship option WD7 (management of successional areas and scrub)

When to do it 

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration. 

How to do it 

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep 

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as: 

stocking records to show grazing activity at a land parcel level
field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action 

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CSAM2, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB2, CAB5, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB2, AB5, AB6, AB9, HS3, HS9, OP1, OR3, OT3, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application.

If you apply for SPM5, you can also apply for supplemental action UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) or UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU).

Question 5

Field boundaries

Accepted Answer

CHRW2: Manage hedgerows

BND1: Maintain dry stone walls

BND2: Maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks

CHRW2: Manage hedgerows

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all linear SFI actions. See ‘Check you have management control of your hedgerows’ and ‘Check the length you enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£13 per 100 metres (m) for one side of an eligible hedgerow per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are managed hedgerows with a range of different heights and widths.

The purpose of this is to provide:

habitat for wildlife
pollen, nectar and berries for mammals, birds and insects

Where you can do this action

An eligible hedgerow for this action must be:

a boundary line of shrubs, or both shrubs and trees
over 20m long
less than 10m wide

The hedgerow can be:

newly planted, laid or coppiced
woody growth on top of an earth or stone-faced bank, for example, Cornish or Devon hedges

There can be gaps in the hedgerow if they’re not more than:

20m long
10% of the total length of the relevant hedgerow when you add all the gaps in it together

If the gaps add up to more than 10%, you can only do the action on the total length of the hedgerow if you’ll plant up the gaps during this action’s 3-year duration.

Check you have management control of your hedgerows

You must have management control of the eligible hedgerows you enter into this action for its 3-year duration.

If you have management control of:

one side of an eligible hedgerow, you must only enter one side into this action
both sides, you can usually choose whether to enter one side or both sides – however, you must enter both sides if you want to manage the hedgerow in a coppicing or laying rotation

You will have management control of both sides of a hedgerow that’s next to a road, or borders a neighbour’s land if you meet both of the following:

you have a legal right or obligation to maintain the hedgerow
you can meet this action’s requirements

Check the length you enter into this action

It’s your responsibility to check that the length (in metres) you enter in your SFI application:

is eligible for this action
corresponds with what’s on the ground for the relevant land parcel – make sure you measure your hedgerows and enter an accurate length

We do not use the hedgerow lengths shown on your digital maps in your SFI application.

If you enter a length which is ineligible or exceeds what’s on the ground, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will have to remove it from your SFI26 agreement. You may also have to repay monies already received.

We’ll publish guidance explaining how to enter both sides of a hedgerow in your SFI application.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the RPA can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must manage hedgerows entered into this action. What you must do to manage them depends on whether they’re:

fully established, which will usually be the case around 5 years after they’re planted
newly planted, or not fully established

If the hedgerows are fully established, you must use one of the following management approaches (you can use different approaches on different fully established hedgerows):

cut each hedgerow incrementally
on a rotation, cut each hedgerow no more than once every 3 years, cutting no more than one third of hedges each year
on a rotation, cut each hedgerow no more than once every 2 years, cutting no more than half the hedges each year
managing them in a coppicing or laying rotation, which may mean they’re left uncut for the duration of your 3-year SFI agreement

If the hedgerows are newly planted, or not fully established, you must lightly trim them incrementally. You must do this until they’re fully established.

When to do it

For fully established hedgerows, if you’re cutting them:

incrementally, you must do this during the autumn and winter months (usually September to late February), each year of this action’s 3-year duration
on a rotation no more than once every 3 years, you must do this during the autumn and winter months
on a rotation no more than once every 2 years, you must do this in late winter (usually from early January to late February)

For newly planted hedgerows, or hedgerows which are not fully established, you must lightly trim them incrementally:

during the autumn and winter months
each year of this action’s 3-year duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do with this action

You can do the following actions or options in land parcels with eligible boundaries entered into this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	All SFI 2026 actions except BND1
SFI 2024 actions	All SFI 2024 actions except BND1 and CHRW2
SFI 2023 actions	All SFI 2023 actions except HRW2
CSHT actions from 2025	All CSHT actions except CHRW4
CS options	All CS management options except BE3 (management of hedgerows)
ES options	All ES revenue options except boundary options

BND1: Maintain dry stone walls

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all linear SFI actions. See ‘Check you have management control of your hedgerows’ and ‘Check the length you enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£27 per 100 metres (m) for both sides

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are dry stone walls maintained in good condition.

The purpose of this is to:

help manage livestock
provide habitats for lichens, mosses, ferns and wildlife
maintain landscape and historic features

Where you can do this action

An eligible dry stone wall for this action must be:

a vertical structure that’s built of natural stone
of traditional dry stone wall construction, which can include mortar if it’s part of the traditional stone walling method
at least 20m long, measured between 2 end points – we’ll publish advice to help you do this action explaining how to measure this
in good condition

To be in good condition, the dry stone wall must be both:

continuous – which means there are no gaps along its entire length, apart from structural wall features such as stiles, stone gate posts and sheep creeps
complete – which means the wall is at a height in keeping with local style, with top stones in place if they’re part of the local style

Check you have management control of your dry stone walls

You must have management control of both sides of the entire length of the eligible dry stone wall you enter into this action for its 3-year duration.

If you only have management control of one side of the dry stone wall, you must not enter it into this action.

You will have management control of both sides of a wall that’s next to a road, or borders a neighbour’s land, if you meet both of following conditions:

you have a legal right or obligation to maintain the wall
you can meet this action’s requirements

Check the length you enter into this action

It’s your responsibility to check that the length (in metres) you enter in your SFI application:

is eligible for this action
corresponds with what’s on the ground for the relevant land parcel – make sure you measure your hedgerows and enter an accurate length

If you enter a length which is ineligible or exceeds what’s on the ground, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will have to remove it from your SFI26 agreement. You may also have to repay monies already received.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic 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).

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must maintain dry stone walls entered into this action in good condition. To do this, you must:

visually check their condition and identify any sections that need to be repaired
carry out any necessary repairs
keep a record (written or photographic) of any need for repairs you identify, and the repair work you do – including the date you identify the need and when the work was done

When you carry out any necessary repairs, you must:

use materials in keeping with the local style and characteristic
retain any existing features such as top stones, sheep creeps, stiles and stone gate posts

When to do it

You must:

check the condition of the walls at least once during each year of this action’s 3-year duration
carry out any necessary repairs within 12 months of identifying the need, or by this action’s end date if you identify the need for repairs during the final year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written or photographic record and supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do with this action

You can do the following actions or options in land parcels with eligible boundaries entered into this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	All SFI 2026 actions except CHRW2, BND1 and BND2
SFI 2024 actions	All SFI 2024 actions except BND1, BND2, CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions	All SFI 2023 actions except HRW1, HRW2 and HRW3
CSHT actions from 2025	All CSHT actions except CHRW4
CS options	All CS management options except BE3 (management of hedgerows)
ES options	All ES revenue options except boundary options

BND2: Maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all linear SFI actions. See ‘Check you have management control of your hedgerows’ and ‘Check the length you enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£11 per 100 metres (m) for one side

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks maintained in good condition.

The purpose of this is to:

help manage livestock
provide habitats for lichens, mosses and ferns, and wildlife
maintain landscape and historic features

Where you can do this action

To be eligible for this action, the bank must be:

either a raised earth or turf-faced bank (an earth bank), or a raised earth bank faced with natural stone (a stone-faced hedgebank) – there can be woody growth on top of the bank (for example, Cornish or Devon hedges)
distinct from the surrounding landform
a land parcel boundary
at least 20m long, measured between 2 end points – we’ll publish advice to help you do this action explaining how to measure this
in good condition

To be in good condition, the earth bank or stone-faced hedgebank must be both:

continuous, with no gaps along its entire length
complete, so the bank is at a height in keeping with local style and a stone-faced hedgebank has facing stones in place

Check you have management control of your earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks

You must have management control of the eligible earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks you enter into this action for its 3-year duration.

If you have management control of:

only one side of an eligible earth bank or stone-faced hedgebank, you must only enter one side into this action
both sides, you can choose whether to enter one side or both sides

You will have management control of both sides of an earth bank or stone-faced hedgebank that’s next to a road, or borders a neighbour’s land, if you meet both of the following:

you have a legal right or obligation to maintain the bank
you can meet this action’s requirements

Check the length you enter into this action

It’s your responsibility to check that the length (in metres) you enter in your SFI application:

is eligible for this action
corresponds with what’s on the ground for the relevant land parcel – make sure you measure your hedgerows and enter an accurate length

We do not use the hedgerow lengths shown on your digital maps in your SFI application.

If you enter a length which is ineligible or exceeds what’s on the ground, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will have to remove it from your SFI26 agreement. You may also have to repay monies already received.

We’ll publish guidance explaining how to enter both sides of an earth bank or stone-faced hedgebank in your SFI application.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic 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).

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks entered into this action in good condition. To do this, you must:

visually check their condition and identify any sections that need to be repaired
carry out any necessary repairs
keep a record (written or photographic) of any need for repairs you identify, and the repair work you do – including the date you identify the need and when the work was done
retain any existing features such as top stones, sheep creeps, stiles and stone gate posts

When you carry out any necessary repairs, you must retain any existing features such as top stones, sheep crops, stiles and stone gate posts.

When to do it

You must:

check the condition of the banks at least once during each year of this action’s 3-year duration
carry out any necessary repairs within 12 months of identifying the need, or by this action’s end date if you identify need for repairs during the final year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written or photographic record and supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do with this action

You can do the following actions or options in land parcels with eligible boundaries entered into this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	All SFI 2026 actions except BND1
SFI 2024 actions	All SFI 2024 actions except BND1
SFI 2023 actions	All SFI 2023 actions
CSHT actions from 2025	All CSHT actions
CS options	All CS management options
ES options	All ES revenue options except boundary options

Question 6

Historic and archaeological features

Accepted Answer

HEF1: Maintain weatherproof traditional farm or forestry buildings

HEF6: Manage historic and archaeological features on grassland

HEF1: Maintain weatherproof traditional farm or forestry buildings

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version).

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£5 per square metre (m²) per year – to calculate the area you must only include the area of the building’s ground floor, not any area from other floors or areas outside the building.

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are:

traditional farm or forestry buildings maintained in good condition
where relevant, preserved and accessible features used by bats, owls and kestrels

The purpose of this is to:

enhance the local landscape
preserve places for wildlife

Where you can do this action

To be eligible for this action, the traditional farm or forestry building, or parts of a building, must:

have been built using traditional methods, such as timber, brick, stone, tile or slate
have been built before 1940 for agricultural or forestry use, such as housing machinery or animals, or storing crops or processing crops, food or forest products
still be in agricultural or forestry use on your farm or land holding, whether or not this was the original use
be in good condition – this means the fabric of the building is intact, so it’s weatherproof

You must have management control of the eligible farm or forestry building for the 3-year duration of this action.

You cannot do this action if the building:

is a metal-framed Dutch barn
was constructed as a dwelling
is a farmhouse, residential or domestic building

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Not applicable

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Not applicable, as you’ll enter the area in m².

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

To maintain the traditional farm or forestry building in good condition, you must:

complete a visual building maintenance assessment to check the building’s condition and identify any areas that need routine maintenance work or minor repairs to keep it weatherproof
carry out any necessary routine maintenance work and minor repairs on a ‘like for like’ basis using traditional materials and methods (unless non-traditional material has previously been used)
maintain any existing areas where a non-traditional material has previously been used to repair or re-clad the building, such as corrugated iron sheeting to cover roofs

To make sure there are preserved and accessible features for bats, owls and kestrels, you must:

complete a visual building wildlife assessment to identify any existing use of the building by these species
retain any existing features used by these species that you’ve identified in the building wildlife assessment
install an owl, bat or kestrel box if you’ve identified they’re required in the building wildlife assessment

If you identify bat activity, you must:

You must produce:

a photographic record of the condition of the building as at this action’s start date
a written or photographic record of each visual building maintenance assessment you complete, including details of any areas of the building that need routine maintenance work or minor repairs to keep it weatherproof and the date you identify this need
a written or photographic record of the routine maintenance work or minor repairs completed, including when the work was done
a written record of the building wildlife assessment

You must not sell the building, or convert it to non-agricultural or forestry use during this action’s 3-year duration

When to do it

You must:

complete the visual building maintenance assessment and building wildlife assessment at least once each year of this action’s 3-year duration
carry out any necessary routine maintenance work or minor repairs within 12 months of identification, or by this action’s end date if the need for maintenance work or minor repairs is identified during the final year of this action’s duration – unless bat activity has been identified and the ecologist’s advice is to carry out works later
install owl, bat or kestrel boxes, as relevant, within 12 months of this action’s start date, if you’ve identified they’re required in the building wildlife assessment

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep:

the required records identified in ‘what to do’
any receipted invoices (or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable), consents or permissions connected with the work on the traditional farm or forestry building
a record of advice you’ve received from a licensed ecological consultant and any required wildlife licence, if you’ve identified bat activity in the building wildlife assessment

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	No SFI 2026 revenue actions
SFI 2024 actions	No SFI 2024 revenue actions
SFI 2023 actions	No SFI 2023 revenue actions
CSHT actions from 2025	No CSHT actions
CS options	No CS revenue options
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

HEF6: Manage historic and archaeological features on grassland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

this action now has a 3-year duration – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£55 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a well-managed, intact grass sward or vegetation throughout the year which:

covers an historic or archaeological feature
has minimal bare ground, scrub, bracken or pernicious weeds

The purpose of this is to:

protect historic and archaeological features
help maintain and conserve landscape character

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land that’s:

identified on your SFI Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER) as containing an historic or archaeological feature – you must get an SFI HEFER before you apply for this action
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code that’s compatible with the eligible land cover

You cannot do this action on land parcels of more than 15ha above the moorland line.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic and archaeological features: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you apply for this action (read section 5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must manage the area containing the historic or archaeological feature in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes:

maintaining a continuous grass sward or vegetation cover
minimising bare ground, scrub, bracken and pernicious weeds

You must not:

plough, cultivate, re-seed, harrow or roll the grassland
carry out supplementary feeding on or within around 6 metres (m) of the historic or archaeological feature
locate vehicle or stock access routes within around 6m of the historic or archaeological feature (existing surfaced tracks can be used)

Before you remove scrub or trees, you must get any relevant consents, permissions or licences. For example, you may need to apply for:

Read section 10 ‘Get any regulatory consents before you do your SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this action’s 5-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CMOR1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, MOR1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW18, CSW20, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OR2, OT1, OT2
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 7

Integrated pest management

Accepted Answer

CIPM2: Flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips

CIPM3: Companion crop on arable and horticultural land

CIPM4: No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops

CIPM2: Flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 or SFI23 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration                

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid 

£798 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim 

This action’s aim is that there’s an established multi-annual flower-rich grass mix which: 

is growing in margins, blocks or in-field strips  
produces flowering plants during the spring and summer months, into early autumn

The purpose of this is to:  

encourage natural crop pest predators as part of an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas  
provide habitat and foraging sites for invertebrates, including natural crop pest predators, wild pollinators such as bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies, and farmland birds

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:  

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural and non-horticultural	Permanent crops	Land use codes for permanent crops

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI scheme information for more details (including a list of the ‘limited area’ actions). 

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action   

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either: 

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration 
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do 

You must establish a flower-rich grass mix as a margin, block or in-field strip on land entered into this action. 

You must use a seed mix which includes at least both:  

4 grass species (not ryegrass) – these should make up no more than 90% of the total mix by weight 
10 wildflower species – with no individual flower species being more than 25% of the total wildflower species element by weight

Once the flower-rich grass margin, block or in-field strip is established (usually from the second spring after sowing), you must maintain it. To do this you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. 

You must not do the following on the established flower-rich grass margin, block or in-field strip: 

cut or graze it with livestock in a way that means this action’s aim cannot reasonably be expected to be achieved  
use them for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
mechanically apply any fertilisers and manures 
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

You can maintain an existing flower-rich grass margin, block or in-field strip to get paid for this action, if it:  

meets this action’s requirements  
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option AB8 (flower rich margins and plots)

When to do it 

If you’re establishing a new flower-rich grass margin, block or in-field strip to meet this action, you must: 

sow the mix by early autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start date 
maintain the mix at the same location until this action’s end date

If you’re maintaining an existing flower-rich grass margin, block or in-field strip to meet this action, you must do this until this action’s end date. You may need to oversow it within 12 months of this action’s start date, so it can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. 

How to do it 

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’ 
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep 

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as: 

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix used 
photographs or other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action 

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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 SFI scheme information for more details.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CIPM3: Companion crop on arable and horticultural land

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£55 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s companion crop growing with a main arable or horticultural crop.

The purpose of this is to do one or more of the following:

support an integrated pest management (IPM) approach by acting as a trap crop for pests or by supressing weeds
provide a habitat for birds and invertebrates, including pollinators and natural crop pest predators
manage nutrient efficiency
protect soil and improve its condition

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic 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 SFI scheme information to find out how to do this).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish a companion crop on land entered into this action, so it’s growing with the main arable or horticultural crop.

The companion crop does not have to be present for the full growing period of the arable or horticultural crop, as long as it’s managed in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve the action’s aim and its intended purpose.

You can establish the companion crop by:

trap cropping – sowing a trap crop to attract crop pests away from the main arable or horticultural crop
inter-cropping – sowing the companion crop with the main arable or horticultural crop
undersowing – sowing a companion crop to form a living mulch beneath the arable or horticultural crop

You must avoid growing deep rooted species of companion crop 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 SFI scheme information for more details.

You can use an existing companion crop to get paid for this action if it meets this action’s requirements.

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If 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.

For example, if you’ve already sown the main arable and horticultural crop before this action starts, you can establish the companion crop within 12 months of this action’s start date.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CAHL2, CIPM4, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3
SFI 2023 actions	AHL2, IPM1, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB17, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS3, HS9, OP1, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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 SFI scheme information for more details.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CIPM4: No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

land used to grow maize is no longer eligible for this action (see ‘Where you can do this action’ and ‘What to do’) – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 or SFI23 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£45 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that no plant protection products containing insecticide are applied on an arable crop or permanent crops.

The purpose of this is to:

support an integrated pest management approach by managing crop pests in a more sustainable way
improve water and air quality
increase biodiversity

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	All SFI 2026 actions except BND1
SFI 2024 actions	All SFI 2024 actions except BND1
SFI 2023 actions	All SFI 2023 actions
CSHT actions from 2025	All CSHT actions
CS options	All CS management options
ES options	All ES revenue options except boundary options

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

For arable crops (including non-permanent horticultural crops) this action is rotational. This means you can either:

do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration
move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration

For permanent crops, this action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must not apply any plant protection products containing insecticide on land entered into this action, including:

insecticide seed dressings
nematicides and acaricides
other insecticides, such as silica insecticides and orange oil

You can apply herbicides, fungicides or plant growth regulators.

If the land is being used to grow arable crops (including non-permanent horticultural crops), you must do this action on one ‘cash crop’ from when it’s sown until it’s harvested.

A ‘cash crop’ means a crop grown to be harvested for commercial use.

For the purposes of this action, an arable crop includes:

combinable crops, such as cereals and oilseed rape
root crops
field vegetables and salad crops
soft fruit crops which do not occupy the land for 5 years or more and provide repeated harvests (also known as permanent crops)

You can choose which arable crop to do this action on, but it must not be:

a cover crop which you will not harvest for commercial sale
a short-term specialist crop, such as crops which are only in the ground for around 2 months
maize

When to do it

For arable crops, you must do this action on at least one crop that’s sown during each year of this action’s 3-year duration. You can harvest it in a subsequent year of this action’s duration if you sow the next crop for this action in the same year.

This means you must do this action on a crop that’s sown during:

the first year of this action’s duration – you can harvest it in the second year of this action’s duration
the second year of this action’s duration – you can harvest it in the third year of this action’s duration
the third year of this action’s duration – you must do this action until you harvest the crop or this action’s end date (whichever is earlier)

If you’re already growing an arable crop on the land entered into this action when the action starts, you must do this action on a crop that’s sown within 12 months of the action’s start date.

For permanent crops, you must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this action’s 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, AHW7, CAHL2, CIPM3, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, AHW7, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4
SFI 2023 actions	AHL2, IPM1, IPM3, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB17, CAB2, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options (see additional note)	AB2, AB9, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP2, OP5, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5, SW5, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

Note: other arable CS options not included in the table cannot be done on the same area as CIPM4 because they do not allow the use of insecticides.

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 8

Moorland and upland

Accepted Answer

UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland

UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland

UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland

UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU)

UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU)

UPL8: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 4 months)

UPL10: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 8 months)

UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the payment rate has increased to £35 per hectare per year – this applies to both SFI26 agreements and existing SFI24 agreements
the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
there are some updated values for converting livestock into GLU and there’s a new exception for ‘supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions’ – see ‘What to do’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£35 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a moderate livestock density grazing on the moorland, so its habitat is maintained or enhanced alongside farming.

The purpose of this is to:

prevent expansion of areas of bare ground
increase surface roughness
reduce diffuse pollution
improve water quality and flood risk management
provide habitats for moorland species
protect historic and archaeological features

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located above the moorland line that’s:

If a land parcel is located above and below the moorland line, you can enter it into this action if:

most of the area is above the moorland line
it’s managed as one grazing unit with adjacent land parcels located above the moorland line

Farmyards or land used for turf or peat production are not eligible for this action.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog	Relevant non-agricultural land cover, such as scrub, scree, bracken or bog	Relevant non-agricultural land use code to match land cover

Eligibility of protected land

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:

what it’s advisable for you to do before you apply for this action on SSSI land
how 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
what stocking information you need to provide with your SSSI notice

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must make sure that the livestock density across the land entered into this action does not exceed 0.16 grazing livestock units (GLU) per ha at any time.

Convert livestock numbers into GLU  

To convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:

Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU
Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU
Lowland ewe and lamb, or ram – 0.12 GLU
Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
Goat – 0.12 GLU
Pony or donkey – 0.8 GLU
Horse – 1.0 GLU

Lambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation. They are included in the figures shown for ‘ewe and lamb’.

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action. It will explain how to calculate the livestock density.

You must not carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on land entered into this action, except for mineral licks

Supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions 

You 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: 

move the feeding sites around the land entered into this action to minimise damage to the soil and vegetation
avoid transferring undesirable species which are in the hay or haylage, such as docks or rosebay willowherb

You must not:

feed livestock on or next to historic and archaeological features, steep slopes or footpaths
use troughs or feeders

You 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.

Produce a written stocking calendar

At 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.

The stocking calendar must show how you plan to meet this action’s requirements. It must include:

land parcel reference number and hectarage
dates you plan to graze the land parcel during each calendar month
monthly numbers of livestock which will graze the land parcel, including their type and age bracket

If 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.

If 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.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking calendar and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	OFM3, UPL10, UPL8
SFI 2024 actions	CMOR1, HEF5, OFM3, UPL10, UPL7, UPL8, UPL9
SFI 2023 actions	MOR1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW25, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for one of the following supplemental actions on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application:

UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) – you can also apply for SPM5 on the same area as UPL5
UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU) – you can also apply for SPM5 on the same area as UPL6
SPM5: 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

UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the payment rate has increased to £89 per hectare per year – this applies to both SFI26 agreements and existing SFI24 agreements
the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
there are some updated values for converting livestock into GLU and there’s a new exception for ‘supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions’ – see ‘What to do’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid 

£89 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a low livestock density grazing on the moorland, so its habitat is maintained or enhanced alongside farming.

The purpose of this is to:

prevent expansion of areas of bare ground
increase surface roughness
reduce diffuse pollution
improve water quality and flood risk management
provide habitats for moorland species
protect historic and archaeological features

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located above the moorland line that’s:

If a land parcel is located above and below the moorland line, you can enter it into this action if:

most of the area is above the moorland line
it’s managed as one grazing unit with adjacent land parcels located above the moorland line

Farmyards or land used for turf or peat production are not eligible for this action.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog	Relevant non-agricultural land cover, such as scrub, scree, bracken or bog	Relevant non-agricultural land use code to match land cover

Eligibility of protected land

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:

what it’s advisable for you to do before you apply for this action on SSSI land
how 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
what stocking information you need to provide with your SSSI notice

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You 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.

Convert livestock numbers into GLU

To convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:

Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU
Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU
Lowland ewe and lamb, ram – 0.12 GLU
Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
Goat – 0.12 GLU
Pony or donkey – 0.8 GLU
Horse – 1.0 GLU

Lambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation. They are included in the figures shown for ‘ewe and lamb’.

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action. It will explain how to calculate the livestock density.

You must not carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on land entered into this action, except with mineral licks.

Supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions

You 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:

move the feeding sites around the land entered into this action to minimise damage to the soil and vegetation
avoid transferring undesirable species which are in the hay or haylage, such as docks or rosebay willowherb

You must not:

feed livestock on or next to historic and archaeological features, steep slopes or footpaths
use troughs or feeders

You 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.

Produce a written stocking calendar

At 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.

The stocking calendar must show how you plan to meet this action’s requirements. It must include:

land parcel reference number and hectarage
dates you plan to graze the land parcel during each calendar month
monthly numbers of livestock which will graze the land parcel, including their type and age bracket

If 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.

If 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.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking calendar and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	OFM3, UPL10, UPL8
SFI 2024 actions	CMOR1, HEF5, OFM3, UPL10, UPL7, UPL8, UPL9
SFI 2023 actions	MOR1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW25, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for one of the following supplemental actions on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application:

UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) – you can also apply for SPM5 on the same area as UPL5
UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU) – you can also apply for SPM5 on the same area as UPL6
SPM5: 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

UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the payment rate has increased to £111 per hectare per year – this applies to both SFI26 agreements and existing SFI24 agreements
the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
there are some updated values for converting livestock into GLU and there’s a new exception for ‘supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions’ – see ‘What to do’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£111 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a limited livestock density grazing on the moorland, so its habitat is maintained or enhanced alongside farming.

The purpose of this is to:

prevent expansion of areas of bare ground
increase surface roughness
reduce diffuse pollution
improve water quality and flood risk management
provide habitats for moorland species
protect historic and archaeological features

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located above the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

If a land parcel is located above and below the moorland line, you can enter it into this action if:

most of the area is above the moorland line
it’s managed as one grazing unit with adjacent land parcels located above the moorland line

Farmyards or land used for turf or peat production are not eligible for this action.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog	Relevant non-agricultural land cover, such as scrub, scree, bracken or bog	Relevant non-agricultural land use code to match land cover

Eligibility of protected land

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:

what it’s advisable for you to do before you apply for this action on SSSI land
how 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
what stocking information you need to provide with your SSSI notice

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must make sure that the livestock density across the land entered into this action does not exceed 0.04 grazing livestock units (GLU) per ha at any time.

To convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:

Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU
Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU
Lowland ewe and lamb, or ram – 0.12 GLU
Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
Goat – 0.12 GLU
Pony or donkey – 0.8 GLU
Horse – 1.0 GLU

Lambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation. They are included in the figures shown for ‘ewe and lamb’.

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action. It will explain how to calculate the livestock density.

You must not carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on land entered into this action, except with mineral licks.

Supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions

You 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:

move the feeding sites around the land entered into this action to minimise damage to the soil and vegetation
avoid transferring undesirable species which are in the hay or haylage, such as docks or rosebay willowherb

You must not:

feed livestock on or next to historic and archaeological features, steep slopes or footpaths
use troughs or feeders

You 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.

Produce a written stocking calendar

At 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.

The stocking calendar must show how you plan to meet this action’s requirements. It must include:

land parcel reference number and hectarage
dates you plan to graze the land parcel during each calendar month
monthly numbers of livestock which will graze the land parcel, including their type and age bracket

If 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.

If 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.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking calendar and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	OFM3, UPL10, UPL8
SFI 2024 actions	CMOR1, HEF5, OFM3, UPL10, UPL7, UPL8, UPL9
SFI 2023 actions	MOR1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW25, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action 

You can apply for one of the following supplemental actions  on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application:

UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) – you can also apply for SPM5 on the same area as UPL5
UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU) – you can also apply for SPM5 on the same area as UPL6
SPM5: 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

UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) (updated for SFI26)

Changes made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version): You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected base action.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£18 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This supplemental action’s aim is that at least 70% of the grazing livestock units (GLU) on moorland are cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.

The purpose of this is to:

create a more varied sward structure
control scrub, bracken and coarse vegetation
increase wildlife diversity

Where you can do this action

You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land entered into one of the following base actions:

UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland
UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland
UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland

You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected base action.

If you apply for this supplemental action, you cannot apply for UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 100% GLU) on the same area.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as your selected base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as your selected base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same area as your selected base action.

Rotational or static action

Same as your selected base action. 

What to do

At least 70% of the GLU on land entered into UPL1, UPL2 or UPL3 must be cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.

You must include the following information in the written stocking calendar required for UPL1, UPL2 and UPL3:

dates you plan to graze the land parcel with cattle, ponies or both during each calendar month
monthly numbers of cattle, ponies or both, including the age bracket for cattle

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking calendar and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2024 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2023 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CSHT actions from 2025	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CS options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
ES options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action

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.   

Other supplemental actions you can apply for with this supplemental action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on the same area as this supplemental action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU) (updated for SFI26)

Changes made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version): You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected base action

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£23 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This supplemental action’s aim is that all the grazing livestock units (GLU) on moorland are cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.

The purpose of this is to:

create a more varied sward structure
control scrub, bracken and coarse vegetation
increase wildlife diversity

Where you can do this action

You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land entered into one of the following base actions:

UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland
UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland
UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland

You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected base action.

If you apply for this supplemental action, you cannot apply for supplemental action UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) on the same area.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as your selected base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as your selected base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same as your selected base action.

Rotational or static action

Same as your selected base action.

What to do

100% of the GLU on land entered into UPL1, UPL2 or UPL3 must be cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.

You must include the following information in the written stocking calendar required for UPL1, UPL2 and UPL3:

dates you plan to graze the land parcel with cattle, ponies or both during each calendar month
monthly numbers of cattle, ponies or both, including the age bracket for cattle

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking calendar and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2024 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2023 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CSHT actions from 2025	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CS options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
ES options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action

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.

Other supplemental actions you can apply for with this supplemental action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on the same area as this supplemental action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

UPL8: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 4 months) (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the payment rate has increased to £74 per hectare per year – this applies to both SFI26 agreements and existing SFI24 agreements
the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
there’s a new exception for ‘supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions’ – see ‘What to do’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£74 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that livestock grazing on moorland is managed to avoid impacting features which are sensitive to damage from grazing, wherever possible. 

The purpose of this is to: 

protect and improve habitats for birds, mammals and insects 
reduce bare ground and soil erosion 
improve water quality 
protect historic and archaeological features

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located above the moorland line that’s: 

If a land parcel is located above and below the moorland line, you can enter it into this action if: 

most of the area is above the moorland line 
it’s managed as one grazing unit with adjacent land parcels located above the moorland line

Farmyards or land used for turf or peat production are not eligible for this action. 

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog	Relevant non-agricultural land cover, such as scrub, scree, bracken or bog	Relevant non-agricultural land use code to match land cover

Eligibility of protected land

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:

what it’s advisable for you to do before you apply for this action on SSSI land
how 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
what stocking and shepherding information you need to provide with your SSSI notice

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action 

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What to do

You must remove all livestock, except resident ponies, from land entered into this action for at least 4 consecutive calendar months. 

‘Resident ponies’ means ponies which are traditionally kept on the moorland, such as Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies. 

When the livestock are on the moorland, you must take reasonable steps to minimise their access to ‘sensitive features’ by: 

shepherding or herding them away 
using temporary fencing if that’s possible

Sensitive features are areas on the moorland that can easily be damaged by grazing or poaching caused by livestock. They include: 

bare ground, peat soils, gullies and steep slopes 
vegetation on wet peaty areas – such as blanket bog, wet heath, upland flushes, fens and swamps 
woody vegetation – such as fragmented heath, mountain heath and willow scrub, dry heath, long degenerate heather, deciduous woodland, and scrub 
grassy vegetation – such as upland calcareous grassland, limestone pavement, purple moor-grass, rush pasture and Calaminarian grassland  
historic or archaeological features, including scheduled monuments – these are identified on your SFI HEFER

You must not carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on land entered into this action, except with mineral licks. You must locate them away from sensitive areas.

Supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions

You 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:

move the feeding sites around the land entered into this action to minimise damage to the soil and vegetation
avoid transferring undesirable species which are in the hay or haylage, such as docks or rosebay willowherb

You must not:

feed livestock on or next to historic and archaeological features, steep slopes or footpaths
use troughs or feeders

You 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.

Produce a written stocking and shepherding calendar

At the start of each year of this action’s duration, you must produce a written stocking and shepherding calendar for each land parcel entered into this action. This can be a paper-based or electronic record.

The stocking and shepherding calendar must show how you plan to meet this action’s requirements, including: 

land parcel reference number and hectarage 
all the sensitive features you’ve identified in each land parcel – you can use the moorland survey completed for MOR1 or CMOR1 to show this, if it identifies sensitive features 
monthly numbers of livestock which will graze the land parcel, including their type and age bracket 
dates you plan to remove livestock and return them to the moorland 
shepherding or herding activities you plan to carry out when the livestock are on the moorland to avoid damaging the identified sensitive features

If you manage several adjacent land parcels as one grazing unit, you can keep one stocking and shepherding calendar for that grazing unit. You must include all the land parcel reference numbers which comprise that grazing unit. 

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration. 

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’ 
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking and shepherding record and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	UPL1, UPL2, UPL3
SFI 2024 actions	CMOR1, HEF5, UPL1, UPL2, UPL3
SFI 2023 actions	MOR1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW25, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action 

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application.

If you apply for SPM5, you can also apply for supplemental action UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) or UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU).

UPL10: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 8 months) (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the payment rate has increased to £102 per hectare per year – this applies to both SFI26 agreements and existing SFI24 agreements
the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
there’s a new exception for ‘supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions’ – see ‘What to do’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£102 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that livestock grazing on moorland is managed to avoid impacting habitats which are sensitive to damage from grazing, wherever possible. 

The purpose of this is to: 

protect and improve habitats for birds, mammals and insects 
reduce bare ground and soil erosion 
improve water quality 
protect historic and archaeological features

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located above the moorland line that’s: 

If a land parcel is located above and below the moorland line, you can enter it into this action if: 

most of the area is above the moorland line 
it’s managed as one grazing unit with adjacent land parcels located above the moorland line

Farmyards or land used for turf or peat production are not eligible for this action. 

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog	Relevant non-agricultural land cover, such as scrub, scree, bracken or bog	Relevant non-agricultural land use code to match land cover

Eligibility of protected land

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:

what it’s advisable for you to do before you apply for this action on SSSI land
how 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
what stocking and shepherding information you need to provide with your SSSI notice

Historic 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).

Available area you enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action 

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What to do

You must remove all livestock, except resident ponies, from land entered into this action for at least 8 consecutive calendar months. 

‘Resident ponies’ means ponies which are traditionally kept on the moorland, such as Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies. 

When the livestock are on the moorland, you must take reasonable steps to minimise their access to ‘sensitive features’ by: 

shepherding or herding them away 
using temporary fencing if that’s possible

Sensitive features are areas on the moorland that can easily be damaged by grazing or poaching caused by livestock. They include: 

bare ground, peat soils, gullies and steep slopes 
vegetation on wet peaty areas – such as blanket bog, wet heath, upland flushes, fens and swamps 
woody vegetation – such as fragmented heath, mountain heath and willow scrub, dry heath, long degenerate heather, deciduous woodland, and scrub 
grassy vegetation – such as upland calcareous grassland, limestone pavement, purple moor-grass, rush pasture and Calaminarian grassland  
historic or archaeological features, including scheduled monuments – these are identified on your SFI HEFER

You must not carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on land entered into this action, except with mineral licks. You must locate them away from sensitive areas. 

Supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditions

You 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:

move the feeding sites around the land entered into this action to minimise damage to the soil and vegetation
avoid transferring undesirable species which are in the hay or haylage, such as docks or rosebay willowherb

You must not:

feed livestock on or next to historic and archaeological features, steep slopes or footpaths
use troughs or feeders

You 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.

Produce a written stocking and shepherding calendar

At the start of each year of this action’s duration, you must produce a written stocking and shepherding calendar for each land parcel entered into this action. This can be a paper-based or electronic record.

The stocking and shepherding calendar must show how you plan to meet this action’s requirements, including: 

land parcel reference number and hectarage 
all the sensitive features you’ve identified in each land parcel – you can use the moorland survey completed for MOR1 or CMOR1 to show this, if it identifies sensitive features 
monthly numbers of livestock which will graze the land parcel, including their type and age bracket 
dates you plan to remove livestock and return them to the moorland 
shepherding or herding activities you plan to carry out when the livestock are on the moorland to avoid damaging the sensitive features

If you manage several adjacent land parcels as one grazing unit, you can keep one stocking and shepherding calendar for that grazing unit. You must include all the land parcel reference numbers which comprise that grazing unit. 

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’ 
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written stocking and shepherding record and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	UPL1, UPL2, UPL3
SFI 2024 actions	CMOR1, HEF5, UPL1, UPL2, UPL3
SFI 2023 actions	MOR1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW25, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	HS4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action 

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application.

If you apply for SPM5, you can also apply for supplemental action UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) or UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU).

Question 9

Nutrient management

Accepted Answer

CNUM2: Legumes on improved grassland

CNUM3: Legume fallow

CNUM2: Legumes on improved grassland

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£102 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are legumes growing from spring until early autumn.

The purpose of this is to:

manage nutrient efficiency
protect the soil surface
provide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology, and minimise nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff 
support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish and maintain legumes on improved grassland entered into this action.

You can use one or more type of legume, such as:

red clover
white clover
alsike clover
sainfoin
lucerne
bird’s foot trefoil

You can establish the legumes by:

adding them to an existing grass sward
sowing a mix of grass and legumes

Once established, you must maintain the legumes. To do this, you must manage them in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You can maintain existing areas of legumes on improved grassland to get paid this action if they:

meet this action’s requirements
are not already being for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option GS4 (legume and herb-rich swards)

When to do it

If you’re doing this action on the same area of land for this action’s 3-year duration, you must:

establish the legumes within 12 months of this action’s start date
maintain the area of legumes in each subsequent year of this action’s duration

If you’re rotating this action around your farm, each year of your SFI agreement you must do it for a period of time that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CNUM3: Legume fallow (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

removed reference to SFI24 action SOH2: Multi-species spring-sown cover crop because SOH2 is not available for SFI26 – see ‘When to do it’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£593 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s an established legume fallow with plants that:  

grow and flower from late spring and during the summer months 
provide green cover over the winter months

The purpose of this is to: 

manage nutrient efficiency and improved soil health 
provide food for farmland wildlife, such as pollen and nectar for pollinators and farmland birds 
support an integrated pest management approach by reducing grass weeds and, if located close to cropped areas, encourage natural crop pest predators

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s: 

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:  

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish a legume fallow on land entered into this action.  

You must use a seed mix which contains at least 6 flowering species, including legumes. The seed mix can contain legumes such as: 

alsike clover 
bird’s foot trefoil 
black medick 
common vetch 
lucerne

The seed mix can also include: 

non-legume flower species 
grasses, such as cocksfoot or timothy, which can help to control blackgrass

You must avoid growing deep rooted legumes, such as lucerne, on any area in a land parcel that contains historic or archaeological features. These are identified in your SFI HEFER. 

Once the legume fallow is established (usually from the second spring after sowing), you must maintain it. To do this, you must manage it in a way, and for a period of time, that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. 

You must not do the following on the established legume fallow: 

You can maintain an existing legume fallow to get paid for this action if it:  

meets this action’s requirements 
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option AB15 (two year sown legume fallow)

When to do it

You must: 

establish the legume fallow by the autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start date 
maintain the legume fallow at the same location for a period of time that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim – this will usually be until the end of the second summer after sowing 
re-establish the legume fallow by the following autumn (either at the same location or a different location) and maintain it until this action’s end date

If you want to establish a legume fallow in the spring and remove it in the summer during the same year, you should apply for the summer-sown cover crops action (SOH3). 

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’ 
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as: 

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix used 
photographs or other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 10

Organic

Accepted Answer

OFC1: Organic conversion – improved permanent grassland

OFC2: Organic conversion – unimproved permanent grassland

OFC3: Organic conversion – rotational land

OFC4: Organic conversion – horticultural land

OFC5: Organic conversion – top fruit

OFM1: Organic land management – improved permanent grassland

OFM2: Organic land management – unimproved permanent grassland

OFM3: Organic land management – enclosed rough grazing

OFM4: Organic land management – rotational land

OFM5: Organic land management – horticultural land

OFM6: Organic land management – top fruit

OFC1: Organic conversion – improved permanent grassland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

1 year – you can apply for this action for a maximum of 2 consecutive years to cover the period of organic conversion

How much you’ll be paid

£187 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that improved and semi-improved permanent grassland is converted from conventional management to organic management.

The purpose of this is to increase the overall area of land registered and managed as organic.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

registered as ‘in conversion’ with a Defra-licensed organic control body
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Land is not eligible for this action if you’ve previously:

registered it with an organic control body
received organic conversion aid or funding for it

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Semi-improved low input permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must:

follow the organic conversion plan for the land entered into this action and associated livestock, as approved and signed off by your organic control body
comply with organic standards on land entered into this action from the start of organic conversion period until this action’s end date
complete organic conversion and register the land entered into this action as ‘fully organic’ before this action’s end date

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this action’s duration until the land is registered as ‘fully organic’.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

Evidence to keep

You must keep:

a copy of the organic conversion plan approved and signed off by your organic control body
a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration
records to show the land is improved permanent grassland or semi-improved low input permanent grassland

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, BFS6, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CLIG3, CNUM2, CSAM3, HEF6, PRF1, PRF2, WBD4, WBD6, WBD7
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, BFS3, BFS5, BFS6, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CLIG3, CNUM1, CNUM2, CSAM1, CSAM3, HEF5, HEF6, HEF8, PRF1, PRF2, WBD4, WBD5, WBD6, WBD7, WBD8
SFI 2023 actions	IGL1, IGL2, IGL3, IPM1, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, NUM2, SAM1, SAM3
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CBE4, CBE5, CCT10, CCT2, CCT4, CCT5, CCT7, CGS18, CGS19, CGS20, CGS21, CGS22, CGS25, CGS4, CHS2, CHS4, CHS5, CHS6, CHS7, CLH3, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW12, CSW13, CSW15, CSW16, CSW18, CSW20, CSW21, CSW23, CSW24, CSW25, CSW7, CSW8, CWD20, CWD21, CWD22, CWS1, CWS3, CWT1, CWT14
CS options	BE2, BE5, CT2, CT4, CT5, CT7, GS1, GS10, GS11, GS12, GS13, GS14, GS2, GS5, GS7, GS8, GS9, HS2, HS4, HS5, HS6, HS7, LH3, SW10, SW11, SW12, SW13, SW15, SW16, SW2, SW7, SW8, SW9, WD10, WD11, WD12, WD4, WD5, WD6, WT1, WT7, WT9
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM3: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

OFC2: Organic conversion – unimproved permanent grassland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

1 year – you can apply for this action for a maximum of 2 consecutive years to cover the period of organic conversion

How much you’ll be paid

£96 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that unimproved permanent grassland is converted from conventional management to organic management.

The purpose of this is to increase the overall area of land registered and managed as organic.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Land is not eligible for this action if you’ve previously:

registered it with an organic control body
received organic conversion aid or funding for it

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Unimproved low input permanent grassland, including rough grazing	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must:

follow the organic conversion plan for the land entered into this action and associated livestock, as approved and signed off by your organic control body
comply with organic standards on land entered into this action from the start of organic conversion period until this action’s end date
complete organic conversion and register the land entered into this action as ‘fully organic’ before this action’s end date

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this action’s duration until the land is registered as ‘fully organic’.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

Evidence to keep

You must keep:

a copy of the organic conversion plan approved and signed off by your organic control body
a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration
records to show the land is unimproved low input permanent grassland

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	CLIG3, GRH12, HEF6, PRF2, WBD7
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CLIG3, CNUM1, CSAM1, GRH6, HEF5, HEF6, PRF2, WBD7
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CBE4, CBE5, CCT10, CCT3, CCT5, CGS18, CGS19, CGS20, CGS21, CGS22, CHS4, CHS5, CHS7, CLH1, CLH2, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW15, CSW16, CSW18, CSW20, CSW21, CSW24, CSW25, CUP2, CWD20, CWD21, CWD22, CWS1, CWS3, CWT10, CWT13, CWT14
CS options	BE4, BE5, CT1, CT3, CT5, GS1, GS10, GS13, GS2, GS5, GS6, GS7, GS9, HS4, HS5, HS7, LH1, LH2, SW10, SW15, SW16, SW18, UP2, WD10, WD11, WD4, WD5, WT10, WT6, WT8
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM3: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

OFC3: Organic conversion – rotational land

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

1 year – you can apply for this action for a maximum of 2 consecutive years to cover the period of organic conversion

How much you’ll be paid

£298 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that land managed as part of a crop rotation is converted from conventional management to organic management.

The purpose of this is to increase the overall area of land registered and managed as organic.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Land is not eligible for this action if you’ve previously:

registered it with an organic control body
received organic conversion aid or funding for it

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Improved permanent grassland, where cultivation is part of the conversion plan	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

Not applicable – if you apply for this action for a second consecutive year you can either do it at:

a new location
the same location

What to do

You must:

follow the organic conversion plan for the land entered into this action and associated livestock, as approved and signed off by your organic control body
comply with organic standards on land entered into this action from the start of organic conversion period until this action’s end date
complete organic conversion and register the land entered into this action as ‘fully organic’ before this action’s end date

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this action’s duration until the land is registered as ‘fully organic’.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

Evidence to keep

You must keep:

a copy of the organic conversion plan approved and signed off by your organic control body
a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW11, AHW3, AHW4, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, BFS6, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM2, CSAM3, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3, WBD3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW1, AHW10, AHW11, AHW12, AHW3, AHW4, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, BFS1, BFS2, BFS4, BFS6, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFA1, OFA6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4, WBD3, WBD8
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IGL1, IGL2, IGL3, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM2, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB10, CAB11, CAB14, CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CAB2, CAB5, CAB6, CAB7, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CGS25, CGS4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW13, CSW17, CSW19, CWD3, CWS1, CWS3, CWT2
CS options	AB10, AB11, AB14, AB16, AB3, AB5, AB6, AB7, AB8, BE1, GS3, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, SW1, SW11, SW13, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, WD3, WT2
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

OFC4: Organic conversion – horticultural land

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

1 year – you can apply for this action for a maximum of 2 consecutive years to cover the period of organic conversion

How much you’ll be paid

£874 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that horticultural land used to produce vegetables or salad crops is converted from conventional management to organic management.

The purpose of this is to increase the overall area of land registered and managed as organic.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Land is not eligible for this action if you’ve previously:

registered it with an organic control body
received organic conversion aid or funding for it

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow horticultural crops	Arable land	Land use codes for horticultural arable crops
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01
Permanent grassland where cultivation is part of the conversion plan	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

For non-permanent horticultural crops grown on arable land this action is rotational. This means for the second year of organic conversion you can either:

move its location
do it at the same location

For permanent horticultural crops, this action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must:

follow the organic conversion plan for the land entered into this action and associated livestock, as approved and signed off by your organic control body
comply with organic standards on land entered into this action from the start of organic conversion period until this action’s end date
complete organic conversion and register the land entered into this action as ‘fully organic’ before this action’s end date

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this action’s duration until the land is registered as ‘fully organic’.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

Evidence to keep

You must keep:

a copy of the organic conversion plan approved and signed off by your organic control body
a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW11, AHW3, AHW5, BFS1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM3, CSAM2, PRF1, PRF2, SOH3, WBD3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW1, AHW11, AHW12, AHW3, AHW5, BFS1, BFS2, BFS4, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM3, CSAM1, CSAM2, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, SOH2, SOH3, WBD3
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB11, CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CAB5, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWD3, CWS1, CWS3, CWT2
CS options	AB11, AB16, AB3, AB5, AB8, BE1, HS3, HS9, SW1, SW3, SW4, SW6, WD3, WT2
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

OFC5: Organic conversion – top fruit (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

1 year – you can apply for this action for a maximum of 3 consecutive years to cover the period of converting to organic

How much you’ll be paid

£1,920 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that orchards which produce top fruit and permanent bush crops are converted from conventional management to organic management.

The purpose of this is to increase the overall area of land registered and managed as organic.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

registered as ‘in conversion’ with a Defra-licensed organic control body
used to grow top fruit (such as apples, pears and plums) or bush fruit crops (such as gooseberries and redcurrants) as a commercial crop which is not used to produce alcoholic drinks
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Land is not eligible for this action if you’ve either:

previously registered it with an organic control body
received organic conversion aid or funding for it

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must:

protect the trees from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits, to prevent serious damage
manage weeds and vegetation around the base of establishing trees
follow the organic conversion plan for the land entered into this action and associated livestock, as approved and signed off by your organic control body
comply with organic standards on land entered into this action from the start of organic conversion period until this action’s end date
complete organic conversion and register the land entered into this action as ‘fully organic’ before this action’s end date

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this action’s duration until the land is registered as ‘fully organic’.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

Evidence to keep

You must keep:

a conversion map showing the planting spacing and species within the orchard – you can mark this on any map
copies of fruit sale receipts to show that the orchards are in commercial production and not used to produce alcoholic drinks
a copy of the organic conversion plan approved and signed off by your organic control body
photographs of the trees entered into this action
a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM3, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AHW1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM3, CSAM1, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM3, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CBE4, CBE5, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB16, AB8, BE4, BE5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

OFM1: Organic land management – improved permanent grassland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£20 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that improved and semi-improved grassland is maintained under organic management.

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil health
increase biodiversity
improve water quality

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

registered as ‘fully organic’ by a Defra-licensed organic control body
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Semi-improved low input permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Arable land used to grow crops, that you’ll convert to permanent grassland	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must comply with the organic standards required by your Defra-licensed organic control body on land entered into this action.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

You must do this action in a way that meets the required organic standards.

Evidence to keep

You must keep:

a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration
records to show the land is improved grassland or semi-improved low input permanent grassland

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, BFS6, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CLIG3, CNUM2, CSAM3, HEF6, PRF1, PRF2, WBD4, WBD6, WBD7
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, BFS3, BFS5, BFS6, CIGL1, CIGL2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CLIG3, CNUM1, CNUM2, CSAM1, CSAM3, HEF5, HEF6, PRF1, PRF2, WBD4, WBD5, WBD6, WBD7, WBD8
SFI 2023 actions	IGL1, IGL2, IGL3, IPM1, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, NUM2, SAM1, SAM3
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CBE4, CBE5, CCT10, CCT2, CCT4, CCT5, CCT7, CGS18, CGS19, CGS20, CGS21, CGS22, CGS25, CGS4, CHS2, CHS4, CHS5, CHS6, CHS7, CLH3, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW12, CSW13, CSW15, CSW16, CSW18, CSW20, CSW21, CSW23, CSW24, CSW25, CSW7, CSW8, CWD20, CWD21, CWD22, CWS1, CWS3, CWT1, CWT14
CS options	BE2, BE5, CT2, CT4, CT5, CT7, GS1, GS10, GS11, GS12, GS13, GS14, GS2, GS5, GS7, GS8, GS9, HS2, HS4, HS5, HS6, HS7, LH3, SW10, SW11, SW12, SW13, SW15, SW16, SW18, SW2, SW7, SW8, SW9, WD10, WD11, WD12, WD4, WD5, WD6, WT1, WT7, WT9
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM3: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

OFM2: Organic land management – unimproved permanent grassland (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£41 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that unimproved grassland, including rough grazing, is maintained under organic management.

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil health
increase biodiversity
improve water quality

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Unimproved low input permanent grassland, including rough grazing	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must comply with the organic standards required by your Defra-licensed organic control body on land entered into this action.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

You must do this action in a way that meets the required organic standards.

Evidence to keep

You must keep:

a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration
records to show the land is unimproved low input permanent grassland or rough grazing

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	CLIG3, GRH12, HEF6, PRF2, WBD7
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CLIG3, CNUM1, CSAM1, GRH6, HEF5, HEF6, PRF2, WBD7
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CBE4, CBE5, CCT10, CCT3, CCT5, CGS18, CGS19, CGS20, CGS21, CGS22, CHS4, CHS5, CHS7, CLH1, CLH2, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW15, CSW16, CSW18, CSW20, CSW21, CSW24, CSW25, CUP2, CWD20, CWD21, CWD22, CWS1, CWS3, CWT10, CWT13, CWT14
CS options	BE4, BE5, CT1, CT3, CT5, GS1, GS10, GS13, GS2, GS5, GS6, GS7, GS9, HS4, HS5, HS7, LH1, LH2, SW10, SW15, SW16, SW18, UP2, WD10, WD11, WD4, WD5, WT10, WT6, WT8
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM3: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

OFM3: Organic land management – enclosed rough grazing (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£97 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that rough grazing is maintained under organic management.

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil health
increase biodiversity
improve water quality

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located within a severely disadvantaged area (SDA) above the moorland line that’s:

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Unimproved low input permanent grassland that’s rough grazing	Permanent grassland	PG01
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog	Relevant non-agricultural land cover	Relevant non-agricultural land use code to match land cover

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic environment 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must comply with the organic standards required by your Defra-licensed organic control body on land entered into this action.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

You must do this action in a way that meets the required organic standards.

Evidence to keep

You must keep a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration.

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	UPL1, UPL2, UPL3
SFI 2024 actions	CMOR1, HEF5, UPL1, UPL2, UPL3
SFI 2023 actions	MOR1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CUP2, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	UP1, UP2
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action. You can only do this in the same SFI26 application.

OFM4: Organic land management – rotational land

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£132 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that land managed as part of a crop rotation is maintained under organic management.

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil health
increase biodiversity
improve water quality

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

registered as ‘fully organic’ by a Defra-licensed organic control body
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must comply with the organic standards required by your Defra-licensed organic control body on land entered into this action.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

You must do this action in a way that meets the required organic standards.

Evidence to keep

You must keep a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action. This must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration.

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Scrub	Scrub – ungrazeable	WO25
Scrub	Notional – scrub	NF03

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

OFM5: Organic land management – horticultural land

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£707 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that horticultural land is maintained under organic management.

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil health
increase biodiversity
improve water quality

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

registered as ‘fully organic’ by a Defra-licensed organic control body
used to grow at least one horticultural crop in each land parcel entered into this action, each year of this action’s duration
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow horticultural crops	Arable land	Land use codes for horticultural arable crops
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

For non-permanent horticultural crops grown on arable land this action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

For permanent horticultural crops, this action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What you must do to get paid

You must comply with the organic standards required by your Defra-licensed organic control body on land entered into this action.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

You must do this action in a way that meets the required organic standards.

Evidence to keep

You must keep a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action. This must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration.

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW11, AHW3, AHW5, BFS1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM3, CSAM2, PRF1, PRF2, SOH3, WBD3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW1, AHW11, AHW12, AHW3, AHW5, BFS1, BFS2, BFS4, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM3, CSAM1, CSAM2, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, SOH2, SOH3, WBD3
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB11, CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CAB5, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWD3, CWS1, CWS3, CWT2
CS options	AB11, AB16, AB3, AB5, AB8, BE1, HS3, HS9, SW1, SW3, SW4, SW6, WD3, WT2
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

OFM6: Organic land management – top fruit (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£1,920 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that orchards which produce top fruit and permanent bush crops are maintained under organic management.

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil health
increase biodiversity
improve water quality

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located below the moorland line that’s:

registered as ‘fully organic’ by a Defra-licensed organic control body
used to grow top fruit (such as apples, pears and plums) or bush fruit crops (such as gooseberries and redcurrants) as a commercial crop which is not used to produce alcoholic drinks
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: 

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must:

comply with the organic standards required by your Defra-licensed organic control body on land entered into this action
protect the trees from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits, to prevent serious damage
manage weeds and vegetation around the base of establishing trees

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

You must do this action in a way that meets the required organic standards.

Evidence to keep

You must keep a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration

You must also keep other evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
copies of sales receipts for fruit crops
photographs and other documentation

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM3, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AHW1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM3, CSAM1, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM3, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CBE4, CBE5, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB16, AB8, BE4, BE5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 11

Precision farming, equipment and technology

Accepted Answer

PRF1: Variable rate application of nutrients

PRF2: Camera or remote sensor guided herbicide spraying

PRF4: Mechanical robotic weeding

PRF1: Variable rate application of nutrients (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

there’s a new exception for an initial ‘wake up’ application of nitrogen at a ‘flat rate’ – see ‘What to do’ and ‘Evidence to keep’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£27 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that precision farming equipment is used to apply all major nutrients:

at a variable rate, which means the nutrient application rate is automatically varied
to match the nutrient needs of crops on different areas of land

The purpose of this is to:

reduce over-application of nutrients
improve yields from more consistent crop growth and quality
improve water and air quality

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must apply all major nutrients across the land entered into this action using Variable Rate Application (VRA) equipment.

The VRA equipment must be either:

pre-programmed with a ‘variable rate file’ using data from zonal soil or crop testing and analysis or remote sensing
linked to a tractor or sprayer mounted crop reflectance sensor

You 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.

The 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:

use equipment that is not VRA equipment
apply the nitrogen at a ‘flat rate’ for the initial ‘wake up’ application only

For the purposes of this action, major nutrients include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg), as relevant, contained in:

manufactured fertilisers – solid or liquid
solid manures – such as farmyard manure, poultry litter, sewage sludge or biosolids
slurry or digestate, including separated liquid

You do not need to use VRA equipment to apply:

micro-nutrients, such as boron or sulphur
lime, because is not a nutrient – it helps to increase the availability of major nutrients and controls soil acidity (pH)

‘Zonal’ soil testing means you divide land parcels into soil management zones and take soil samples within each zone.

The 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:

meets this action’s requirements
is less than 5 years old

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

invoices for zonal soil testing and analysis
the ‘variable rate file’ uploaded to the VRA equipment
an ‘as applied’ VRA record at a land parcel level
initial flat rate N application records showing the product, the rate and date of application (if relevant)
field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
contractor’s invoice if you use a contractor to do this action

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

PRF2: Camera or remote sensor guided herbicide spraying

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£43 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This 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.

The purpose of this is to:

reduce the volume of herbicide applied
increase biodiversity
improve water quality, soil quality and productivity
support an integrated pest management approach

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Camera recognition is currently available for:

docks and nettles in grass or leys containing clover
all weeds in maize
certain crops grown on wide row spacings (such as potatoes)
stubbles – where there’s green growth

Remote sensing technology uses artificial intelligence to recognise target weeds.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent grassland – improved and low input	Permanent grassland	PG01
Permanent crops	Permanent crops	Land use codes for permanent crops

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must apply systemic (contact) herbicides on land entered into this action using camera or remote sensing technology that:

identifies specific weeds to be controlled
automatically switches on individual nozzles to apply the herbicides directly to the identified weeds

Systemic herbicides kill the whole weed, from leaf to root.

You must only carry out a ‘blanket’ application of herbicides if you’re applying:

glyphosate to destroy a cover crop or create a stale seedbed before drilling
residual 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
pre-harvest herbicide or desiccant to combinable crops

A ‘blanket’ application means you apply herbicides uniformly across an area, rather than targeting the application to identified weeds.

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

How to do it

You must follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must.’

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

‘as applied’ data, such as a map showing where individual nozzles switch on to apply herbicide
a record of any permitted blanket application of herbicide, including the date it was applied
contractor’s invoice if you use a contractor to do this action

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, 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
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, 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
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IGL1, IGL2, IGL3, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, LIG1, LIG2, NUM1, NUM2, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB10, 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
CS options	AB1, 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
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

PRF4: Mechanical robotic weeding

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid 

£150 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim 

This action’s aim is that mechanical robotic weeding technology is used to control weeds, so there’s minimal use of herbicides. 

The purpose of this is to: 

improve productivity, water and soil quality
increase biodiversity
support an integrated pest management approach

Where you can do this action 

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s: 

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps 
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

It will not usually be possible for you to do this action on combinable crops.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops, excluding temporary grassland	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action 

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either: 

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must control weeds on land entered into this action using a mechanical robotic weeder that:  

weeds between and within the rows of one crop
has camera or GPS-guided hoes which physically remove the weeds from the ground

You must do this action on one crop from when it’s sown until it’s harvested.  

For the purposes of this action, a crop includes: 

root crops
field vegetables and salad crops
soft fruit crops which do not occupy the land for 5 years or more and provide repeated harvests (also known as ‘permanent crops’)

You can choose which crop to do this action on, but it must be a ‘cash crop’. This means it’s a crop grown to be harvested for commercial use. 

You can apply residual herbicides to the crop before the 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.

‘Residual’ herbicides are long-lasting selective herbicides which control certain weed species without harming the crop. 

You must not use any other herbicides on the crop from when it’s sown until it’s harvested. 

When to do it 

You must do this action on at least one crop that’s sown during each year of this action’s 3-year duration. You can harvest it in a subsequent year of this action’s duration if you sow the next crop for this action in the same year. 

This means you must do this action on a crop that’s sown during: 

the first year of this action’s duration – you can harvest it in the second year of this action’s duration
the second year of this action’s duration – you can harvest it in the third year of this action’s duration
the third year of this action’s duration – you must do this action until you harvest that crop or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier

If you’re already growing a crop on the land entered into this action when this action starts, you must do this action on a crop that’s sown within 12 months of this action’s start date. 

How to do it  

You must follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must.’ 

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep 

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:  

data from the tractor’s job recording system identifying the mechanical robotic weeder, the date and areas weeded
field operations at a land parcel level, including the land parcel reference number and the dates the crop was sown and harvested
contractor’s invoice if you use a contractor to do this action

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action 

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, CAHL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CSAM2, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1, SOH3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4
SFI 2023 actions	AHL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB10, CAB14, CAB17, CAB2, CAB5, CAB6, CAB7, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB10, AB14, AB2, AB5, AB6, AB7, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR3, OT3, SW12, SW5, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 12

Soil health

Accepted Answer

CSAM2: Multi-species winter cover crop

CSAM3: Herbal leys

SOH1: No-till farming

SOH3: Multi-species summer-sown cover crop

CSAM2: Multi-species winter cover crop

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£129 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a multi-species cover crop that’s:

well-established over the winter months
present between harvesting a cash crop and establishing the next cash crop

The purpose of this is to:

protect the soil surface
provide root growth that benefits soil structure
supports soil biology and minimises nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic 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 SFI SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish a multi-species cover crop on land entered into this action which will not be harvested as a ‘cash crop’.

A ‘cash crop’ means a crop grown to be harvested for commercial use.

You must establish the multi-species cover crop early enough so it can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You must use a seed mix that contains at least 2 species from 2 or more of the following plant families:

brassicas
legumes
cereals or grasses
herbs

You 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 SFI SFI26 scheme information for more details. 

You must maintain the multi-species cover crop over the winter months in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. You can graze the cover crop with livestock, but it must still be well-established over the winter months.

For the purposes of this action’s aim, the cover crop will be well-established if there’s:

leafy vegetation that’s sufficiently well grown so the cover crop protects the soil surface for the duration of the winter months (usually from early December until late February)
minimal bare soil

If 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 which means the cover crop is not well-established. Read section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply with your agreement’ in the SFI SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this.

You must not do the following on the well-established cover crop:

mechanically apply any fertilisers or manures
destroy it before the end of the winter months, unless you’re establishing an early-sown spring crop

If you’re establishing an early-sown spring crop, you may destroy the multi-species cover crop before the end of the winter months. You must not do this more than 6 weeks before you establish the early-sown spring crop.

When you destroy the multi-species cover crop, you should try to minimise risks such as compaction, poaching, soil runoff or erosion.

You can maintain an existing multi-species cover crop to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option – you can use a cover crop paid for under SOH3 (multi-species summer-sown cover crop) to meet this action, but only if you overseed it

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If 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.

In 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.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix used
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, CIPM3, CIPM4, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFA6, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB11, CAB14, CAB5, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB11, AB14, AB5, HS3, HS9, OP5, OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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 SFI SFI26 scheme information for more details. 

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

CSAM3: Herbal leys (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the payment rate has been reduced – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI23 or SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£224 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s an established herbal ley with:

a mixture of grasses, legumes and herbs or wildflowers to provide varied root structures
areas of flowering plants from late spring and during summer months

The purpose of this is to:

produce a high volume of forage with minimal use of inorganic fertiliser
improve resilience to drought
help improve and maintain the soil’s structure, carbon, biology and fertility

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter any area that’s designated as an SSSI into this action.

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third year of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You must establish an herbal ley with a mixture of grass, legumes and herbs on land entered into this action.

You must use a seed mix which includes all of the following (as a minimum):

1 grass species
2 legume species
2 herb or wildflower species

If you’re establishing an herbal ley on land identified by you as being at risk of soil erosion or runoff, you must use establishment techniques which minimise the risk of soil erosion or runoff. You can use the soil management plan produced for CSAM1 (or SAM1) to identify this land.

Once the herbal ley is established, you must maintain it. To do this you must manage it in a way, and for a period of time, that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You must minimise use of inorganic fertilisers containing nitrogen. Usually, this will be no more than around 40 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare per year.

You must not use the established herbal ley for storage or apply pesticides on it, except:

You can maintain an existing herbal ley to get paid for this action if it:

meets this action’s requirements – you may need to re-sow it to make sure it can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option GS4 (legume and herb-rich swards)

When to do it

You must:

establish the herbal ley by early autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start date
maintain the herbal ley at the same location for a period of time that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim – this will usually be until the end of the second summer after sowing
re-establish the herbal ley by early autumn (either at the same location or a different location) and maintain it until this action’s end date

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix used
photographs or other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, SOH1
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3
ES options	No ES revenue options

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 SFI SFI26 scheme information for more details. 

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

SOH1: No-till farming (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action only applies at the point of application
you can now use this action for the sowing of all seeds – see ‘What to do’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£73 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that no-tillage (‘no-till’) farming techniques are used, so soil disturbance is minimised.

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil health, fertility, structure, soil water storage and reduce soil runoff
help to keep organic matter and nutrients in the soil
provide benefits for carbon, water quality and biodiversity
help protect historic and archaeological features

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

You cannot do this action on land where you’re tilling narrow strips of soil to plant crops, leaving the areas between the rows untilled. This is known as ‘strip tillage’.

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland (see additional note)	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow (see additional note)	Arable land	FA01

Note: only if it’s part of the crop rotation and present for no more than 2 years of this action’s duration.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must sow all seeds on land entered into this action using a ‘no-till’ direct drill. This can include tine drills, disc drills and precision seed drills, or broadcasting equipment. Any following harrow tines must be rearward facing.

You must not use conventional or shallow min-till cultivation machinery (except for a stubble rake or straw harrow with rearward facing tines):

to prepare the land for sowing crops
between harvesting (or destroying cover crops) and sowing crops

Where necessary, you can carry out the following on land that does not contain historic or archaeological features:

low disturbance subsoiling to reduce soil compaction during the crop rotation – for example, if there’s bad weather when you harvest the crop
mole draining to help natural drainage

You must keep evidence if you do subsoiling or mole draining.

You must not carry out subsoiling or mole draining on land with historic or archaeological features. This includes scheduled monuments (which would require scheduled monument consent). Read section 10.2 ‘Scheduled monument consent’ in the SFI26 scheme information for further details.

When to do it

You must do this action:

from its start date, unless you have a crop in place when this action starts which does not meet this action’s requirements
throughout each year of this action’s duration

If there’s a crop in place when this action starts which does not meet this action’s requirements, you must do this action:

as soon as possible after the crop is harvested or destroyed
within 12 months of this action’s start date

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level (including if you’ve had to carry out low disturbance subsoiling to reduce compaction or mole draining) and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, CAHL1, CAHL2, CIGL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH3
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW1, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, CAHL1, CAHL2, CIGL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM2, CNUM3, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, IGL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM2, NUM3, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB10, CAB11, CAB14, CAB16, CAB17, CAB19, CAB2, CAB5, CAB6, CAB7, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CGS25, CGS4, COP2, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB1, AB10, AB11, AB14, AB15, AB16, AB2, AB5, AB6, AB7, AB9, GS3, GS4, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR3, OT3, SW5, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

SOH3: Multi-species summer-sown cover crop

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions. See ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£163 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This 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:

the next cash crop is sown
a winter cover crop is sown

The purpose of this is to:

protect the soil surface
provide root growth that benefits soil structure, supports soil biology and minimises nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff
add organic matter

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops, excluding temporary grassland	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01
Permanent horticultural crops	Permanent crops	TC01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.

Rotational or static action

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:

move its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration

What to do

You 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.

A ‘cash crop’ means a crop grown to be harvested for commercial use.

You 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:

brassicas
legumes
cereals and grasses, with grasses making up no more than 25% of the total mix by weight
herbs

The seed mix must not contain:

Japanese reed millet
maize
miscanthus or reed canary grass
sorghum (all varieties)
artichokes
sweet fennel

You 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.

You 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.

For the purposes of this action’s aim, the cover crop will be well-established if there’s:

leafy vegetation that’s sufficiently well grown to protect the soil surface
minimal bare soil

You must not do the following on the well-established cover crop:

cut it or graze it with livestock (other than when destroying the cover crop)
mechanically apply any fertilisers or manures
destroy it more than 2 weeks before you intend to establish the next main crop

When you destroy the cover crop, you should try to minimise risks such as compaction, poaching, soil runoff or erosion.

If 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.

You must not use the following to meet this action:

a multi-species temporary grass ley, such as a mix of grass and clover, that is being used for grazing
a multi-species crop which you intend to harvest as a cash crop, such as a mix of wheat and clover

You 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).

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If 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.

In 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.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix used
photographs and other documentation

If 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.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CAHL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CSAM2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW6, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2
SFI 2023 actions	AHL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB17, CAB2, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB2, AB9, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP5, OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4, SW5, SW6
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Question 13

Species recovery and management

Accepted Answer

SPM3: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)

SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%)

SPM3: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%) (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected base action
GRH12: Manage rough grassland for upland breeding waders has been added as a compatible SFI26 base action – see ‘Where you can do this action’
the UK native animal breeds at risk list has been replaced by the UK native breeds support (NBS) list – see ‘What to do’
heritage semi-feral breeds have been added to eligible livestock – see ‘What to do’
some of the values for converting livestock into GLU have been updated – see ‘What to do’
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£146 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim

This supplemental action’s aim is that more than 80% of grazing livestock units (GLU) on low input grassland habitats are either:

pedigree rare native breeds
heritage semi-feral breeds

The purpose of this is to maintain or increase the number of rare native breed or heritage semi-feral breed grazing livestock. 

Where you can do this action

You can do this supplemental action on eligible land that you’re grazing with livestock, which you enter into one of the following SFI26 base actions: 

AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land 
AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land 
CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs
GRH12: Manage rough grassland for upland breeding waders  
OFC1: Organic conversion – improved permanent grassland 
OFC2: Organic conversion – unimproved permanent grassland 
OFM1: Organic land management – improved permanent grassland 
OFM2: Organic land management – unimproved permanent grassland

You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected base action.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as your selected base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as your selected base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same as your selected base action.    

Rotational or static action

Same as your selected base action.

What to do

During each grazing season, more than 80% of total GLU on land entered into the relevant base action must be in the ‘at risk’ category on the UK native breeds support (NBS) list. The livestock must also be either:   

pedigree rare native breeds – this means they’re registered in a recognised pedigree breeding book 
heritage semi-feral breeds – this means they’re registered in a recognised breeding book

Where relevant, the stocking density (total GLU) on land entered into this action must be as required in the applicable base action. 

To convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:  

Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU 
Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU 
Lowland ewe and lamb, or ram – 0.12 GLU
Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
Goat – 0.12 GLU  
Pony or donkey – 0.8 GLU  
Horse – 1.0 GLU

Lambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation. They are included in the figures shown for ‘ewe and lamb’.

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action. It will explain how to calculate the livestock density.

You must produce the following written records (which can be paper-based or electronic): 

a monthly record of grazing animals at the parcel level 
unique individual animal movement identification numbers for each eligible animal 
any changes to the original documentation since the action’s start date, such as replacement animals 
the unique individual permanent NBAR breed identification numbers for each eligible animal – either the pedigree registration number or birth notification number 
breed registration records and proof of animal provenance, parentage and availability for each animal

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration. 

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’ 
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written records and supply this evidence if we ask for it.  

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2024 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2023 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CSHT actions from 2025	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CS options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
ES options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action

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.   

Other supplemental actions you can apply for with this supplemental action

You can apply for one of the following other supplemental actions in the same SFI26 application as this supplemental action:

GRH7: Haymaking supplement
GRH8: Haymaking supplement (late cut)
GRH10: Lenient grazing supplement

SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected SFI26 base action
GRH12: Manage rough grassland for upland breeding waders has been added as a compatible SFI26 base action – see ‘Where you can do this action’
the UK native animal breeds at risk list has been replaced by the UK native breeds support (NBS) list – see ‘What to do’
heritage semi-feral breeds have been added to eligible livestock – see ‘What to do’
some of the values for converting livestock into GLU have been updated – see ‘What to do’
‘What to do’ has been updated
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£11 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim

This supplemental action’s aim is that more than 80% of grazing livestock units (GLU) on moorland or lowland heathland habitats are either:

pedigree rare native breeds
heritage semi-feral breeds

The purpose of this is to maintain or increase the number of rare native breed or heritage semi-feral breed grazing livestock. 

Where you can do this action

You can do this supplemental action on eligible land that you’re grazing with livestock, which you enter into one of the following SFI26 base actions: 

AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land 
AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land 
UPL1: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland 
UPL2: Low livestock grazing on moorland 
UPL3: Limited livestock grazing on moorland 
UPL8: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 4 months) 
UPL10: Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 8 months) 
SCR2: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics 
OFM3: Organic land management – enclosed rough grazing

You can only apply for this supplemental action in the same SFI26 application as your selected SFI base action.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as your selected base action.

Historic and archaeological features: Same as your selected base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same as your selected base action.    

Rotational or static action

This is the same as your selected base action.    

What to do

During each grazing season, more than 80% of total GLU on land entered into the relevant base action must be in the ‘at risk’ category on the UK native breeds support (NBS) list. The livestock must also be either:   

pedigree rare native breeds – this means they’re registered in a recognised pedigree breeding book 
heritage semi-feral breeds – this means they’re registered in a recognised breeding book

Where relevant, the stocking density (total GLU) on land entered into this action must be as required in the applicable base action. 

To convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:  

Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU 
Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU 
Lowland ewe and lamb, or ram – 0.12 GLU
Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
Goat – 0.12 GLU  
Pony or donkey – 0.8 GLU  
Horse – 1.0 GLU

Lambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation. They are included in the figures shown for ‘ewe and lamb’.

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action. It will explain how to calculate the livestock density.

You must produce the following written records (which can be paper-based or electronic): 

a monthly record of grazing animals at the parcel level 
unique individual animal movement identification numbers for each eligible animal 
changes to the original documentation since the action’s start date, such as replacement animals 
the unique individual permanent NBAR breed identification numbers for each eligible animal – either the pedigree registration number or birth notification number 
breed registration records and proof of animal provenance, parentage and availability for each animal

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration. 

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written records and supply this evidence if we ask for it.  

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2024 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
SFI 2023 actions	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CSHT actions from 2025	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
CS options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action
ES options	Same as your selected SFI26 base action

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.   

Other supplemental actions you can apply for with this supplemental action

You can apply for one of the following other supplemental actions in the same SFI26 application as this supplemental action:

UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU)
UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU)

Question 14

Waterbodies

Accepted Answer

WBD1: Manage ponds

WBD2: Manage ditches

WBD3: In-field grass strips

WBD4: Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input

WBD6: Remove livestock from intensive grassland during the autumn and winter (outside SDAs)

WBD7: Remove livestock from grassland during the autumn and winter (SDAs)

WBD1: Manage ponds

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version).

Duration 

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£257 per pond per year, with a maximum of 3 ponds per hectare (ha) 

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a pond containing clear and clean water with:  

a range of semi-aquatic vegetation allowed to develop around the pond edge 
submerged and floating pond plants

The purpose of this is to: 

increase biodiversity 
help improve water quality 
provide habitats for native aquatic species

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on eligible ponds located on land that’s:  

an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

An eligible pond for this action must be: 

more than 25 square metres up to 2 ha (at the point you apply for an SFI agreement)
under your management control – this includes the whole of the pond edge and the water in the pond

The following ponds are not eligible for this action: 

ponds used for wastewater, treated effluent discharge activities or road drainage
sediment ponds, basins, traps or lagoons
balancing ponds
ponds which are largely or fully synthetically lined
ponds which are likely to need fully draining during this action’s duration, such as irrigation ponds and fire water ponds
aquaculture ponds

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Pond	Pond	WF03

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter ponds into this action that are on an area that’s designated as an SSSI.

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Not applicable. You’ll enter the number of ponds.  

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What to do

You must manage the pond in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim, including: 

controlling scrub around the pond edge by lightly cutting it or grazing it with livestock to encourage a range of semi-aquatic vegetation to develop
trying to avoid livestock trampling and poaching the pond edge which can make the water turbid (cloudy)

You must not: 

deepen or change the pond’s original profile, including filling it in
artificially introduce plants or animals to the pond, including fish or waterfowl
allow supplementary feeding of fish
feed waterfowl – if there’s public access to the pond, try to discourage wildfowl feeding
add dyes to the water

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration. 

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:  

pond management operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	No SFI 2026 revenue actions
SFI 2024 actions	No SFI 2024 revenue actions
SFI 2023 actions	No SFI 2023 revenue actions
CSHT actions from 2025	No CSHT actions
CS options	No CS revenue options
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

WBD2: Manage ditches

No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version). There have only been minor updates to standard wording which appears in all linear SFI actions. See ‘Check you have management control of your ditches’ and ‘Check the length you enter into this action’.

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£4 per 100 metres (m) for both sides 

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are ditches with:  

varied bankside and aquatic vegetation  
undisturbed wildlife habitat

The purpose of this is to: 

maintain vegetation that’s typical of wet ditches 
provide habitats for wildlife

Where you can do this action

An eligible ditch for this action must: 

form part of the boundary of a land parcel that’s located below the moorland line 
be a man-made, long and narrow linear channel that’s cut into the ground for the purpose of draining the land or managing water levels 
have vegetated banks 
regularly contain standing or flowing water

The following features are not eligible for this action: 

ditches located in a severely disadvantaged area (SDA) below the moorland line 
culverts or underground drains 
natural watercourses, such as streams 
non-linear water features, such as ponds, lakes or reservoirs 
grips, gutters and foot drains

Check you have management control of your ditches

You must have management control of both sides of the entire length of the eligible ditch you enter into this action for its 3-year duration.

If you only have management control of one side of the ditch, you must not enter it into this action.

You will have management control of both sides of a ditch that borders a neighbour’s land if you meet both of the following conditions: 

you have a legal right or obligation to manage the ditch 
you can meet this action’s requirements

You cannot do this action on ditches managed by third parties, such as Internal Drainage Boards.

Check the length you enter into this action

It’s your responsibility to check that the length (in metres) you enter in your SFI application:

is eligible for this action
corresponds with what’s on the ground for the relevant land parcel

If you enter a length which is ineligible or exceeds what’s on the ground, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will have to remove it from your SFI26 agreement. You may also have to repay monies already received.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter any area that’s designated as an SSSI into this action.

Historic 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).

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What to do

You must manage the ditch in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim, including: 

cutting vegetation at the top of the ditch bank in rotation, so you only cut up to half the length of the ditch bank in any year of this action’s 3-year duration 
carrying out in-channel management on any section of the ditch no more than once during this action’s 3-year duration – this includes cleaning out silt or vegetation and cutting vegetation in the ditch channel

To minimise disturbance to wildlife, you must only manage the ditch during the autumn, winter and early spring (usually September to late March).

You must not re-profile or increase the width or depth of the ditch. 

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration. 

If 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. 

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’ 
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

Keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:  

ditch management operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices  
photographs and other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	All SFI 2026 actions except BND1
SFI 2024 actions	All SFI 2024 actions except BND1 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions	All SFI 2023 actions
CSHT actions from 2025	All CSHT actions
CS options	All CS management options including BE3 (management of hedgerows)
ES options	All ES revenue options except boundary options

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.

WBD3: In-field grass strips (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

you can now enter total or part of the available area in a land parcel into this action
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£765 per hectare (ha) per year  

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s an in-field grass strip:  

on land at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff
with an intact grass sward throughout the year

The purpose of this is to: 

reduce the quantity of sediment, nutrients and pesticides transported through surface runoff water
improve water quality
provide habitats for wildlife
support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s: 

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

25% limited area action

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of the ‘limited area’ actions).

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic environment 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must establish and maintain an in-field grass strip which has:  

an intact grass sward
no evidence of damage from vehicle or stock access routes

During late summer after the bird breeding season, you must cut the entire strip to encourage a dense sward with a variety of grasses to grow.  

You must not: 

You can maintain an existing in-field grass strip to get paid for this action if it: 

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW3 (in-field grass strips)

When to do it

You must: 

establish the in-field grass strip within 12 months of this action’s start date
maintain the in-field grass strip throughout each subsequent year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use a soil management plan you’ve already produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 to identify this.

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:  

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
photographs and other documentation

If 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. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

WBD4: Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

this action’s duration is now 3 years – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years 

How much you’ll be paid

£489 per hectare (ha) per year 

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a dense and diverse grass sward throughout the year which:  

is on land at risk of erosion or surface runoff or that creates a buffer to a sensitive habitat
has a range of heights during the autumn and winter months
has minimal bare ground, so the soil is covered by vegetation and is not directly exposed to the elements
has low fertiliser inputs

The purpose this is to: 

stabilise the soil
reduce nutrient losses
reduce the risk of flooding

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land that’s: 

For the purposes of this action, ‘sensitive habitats’ include: 

watercourses and waterbodies (streams, rivers, ponds or lakes)
sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) at risk of diffuse water pollution
priority habitats – you can find these on Natural England’s priority habitat inventory map or the MAGIC website

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration. 

What to do

You must:  

establish a diverse grass sward on land entered into this action
use a seed mix which includes at least 5 grass species

Once the grass sward is established, you must maintain it. To do this, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes: 

making sure there’s an intact sward throughout the year, with minimal bare ground
grazing or cutting the sward during the spring and summer months, with cuttings removed in late summer after the bird breeding season

You must not do the following on the grass sward: 

graze it with livestock during the autumn and winter months (usually from early October until mid-March)
apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
apply any fertilisers or manures from late summer until mid-winter (usually from mid-August until the end of January) – this is to reduce the risk of runoff
apply any livestock manures with 100 kilograms (kg) or more of total nitrogen per ha per year
where you do not use livestock manures, apply nitrogen fertiliser to supply 50kg or more per ha of total nitrogen per year
supplementary feed, except for non-energy based mineral blocks

You can maintain an existing grass sward to get paid for this action if it: 

meets this action’s requirements
is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW7 (arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input)

When to do it

If you’re establishing a new grass sward to meet this action, you must: 

sow the mix by early autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start date
maintain it at the same location until this action’s end date

If you’re maintaining an existing grass sward to meet this action, you must do this until this action’s end date.  

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:  

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

We’ll publish advice to help you do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is either:  

at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you can use a soil management plan you’ve already produced for CSAM1 or SAM1 to identify this
important for buffering sensitive habitats

You must also keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as: 

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix used
stocking records to show grazing activity at a land parcel level
input records of nitrogen application
photographs and other documentation

If 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 this evidence if we ask for it. 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFM1, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFM1, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OT1
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

WBD6: Remove livestock from intensive grassland during the autumn and winter (outside SDAs) (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action now only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£115 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that, during the autumn and winter months, there’s intensive grassland next to a watercourse, with:

no livestock on it
minimal waterlogging, compaction and poaching

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil structure
reduce surface runoff and risk of diffuse pollution to the watercourse
help to reduce the risk of flooding

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land which drains directly into a watercourse (stream, river or lake) that’s:

Eligible land

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM3, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AHW1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM3, CSAM1, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3
SFI 2023 actions	AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM3, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CBE4, CBE5, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	AB16, AB8, BE4, BE5
ES options	No ES revenue options

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreement
have 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)

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must remove all livestock from the land for at least 5 consecutive months during the autumn and winter months. This period will usually be between October and March.

For the purposes of this action, livestock includes cattle, sheep, goats, ponies and horses, as relevant.

You must keep a written record of:

grazing activity on each land parcel entered into this action to show you’ve met the minimum livestock removal period required by this action
input records showing that the grassland has received at least 100kg of nitrogen per hectare per year

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If 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.

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do the action until the end of your chosen minimum 5-month livestock removal period or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

Evidence to keep

You 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.

You must also keep the required written record of grazing activity and nitrogen application

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFM1, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFM1, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OT1, SW15, SW16
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

WBD7: Remove livestock from grassland during the autumn and winter (SDAs) (updated for SFI26)

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

the total available area you enter into this action now only applies at the point of application
minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£115 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that, during the autumn and winter months, there’s intensive grassland next to a watercourse, with:

no livestock on it
minimal waterlogging, compaction and poaching

The purpose of this is to:

improve soil structure
reduce surface runoff and risk of diffuse pollution to the watercourse
help to reduce the risk of flooding

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land which drains directly into a watercourse (stream, river or lake) that’s:

located within a severely disadvantaged area (SDA) below the moorland line
identified by you as being prone to waterlogging, compaction and poaching – you must keep written evidence of this
an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information) 
registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland – improved and low input	Permanent grassland	PG01

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

Historic 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total 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.

You 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.       

Rotational or static action

This action is a static action. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You 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.

For the purposes of this action, livestock includes cattle, sheep, goats, ponies and horses, as relevant.

You 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.

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

If 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.

In 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.

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

Evidence to keep

You 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.

You must also keep the required written record of grazing activity.

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIGL3, OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIGL3, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IGL3, IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW16, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OR2, OT1, OT2, SW16
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.   

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: 

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  
CSHT actions: CHRW4
CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops (not temporary grassland, fallow land or maize)	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops
Permanent crops – horticultural and non-horticultural (not miscanthus)	Permanent crops	Land use codes for permanent crops

Cookies on GOV.UK

Applies to England

Agroforestry

AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (updated for SFI26)

Duration

How much you’ll be paid

Action’s aim

Where you can do this action

Eligible in-field agroforestry systems for this action

Eligible land

Eligibility of protected land

Available area you can enter into this action

Rotational or static action

What to do

When to do it

How to do it

Evidence to keep

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (updated for SFI26)

Duration

How much you’ll be paid

Action’s aim

Where you can do this action

Eligible in-field agroforestry systems for this action

Eligible land

Eligibility of protected land

Available area you can enter into this action

Rotational or static action

What to do

When to do it

How to do it

Evidence to keep

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

Buffer strips

CAHL4: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land (updated for SFI26)

Duration

How much you’ll be paid

Action’s aim

Where you can do this action

Eligible land

Eligibility of protected land

Available area you can enter into this action

Rotational or static action

What to do

When to do it

How to do it

Evidence to keep

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

CIGL3: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on improved grassland (updated for SFI26)

Duration

How much you’ll be paid

Action’s aim

Where you can do this action

Eligible land

Eligibility of protected land

Available area you can enter into this action

Rotational or static action

What to do

When to do it

How to do it

Evidence to keep

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

BFS1: 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land (updated for SFI26)

Duration

How much you’ll be paid

Action’s aim

Where you can do this action

Eligible land

Eligibility of protected land

Available area you can enter into this action

Rotational or static action

What to do

When to do it

How to do it

Evidence to keep

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

BFS6: 6m to 12m habitat strip next to watercourses (updated for SFI26)

Duration

How much you’ll be paid

Action’s aim

Duration 

How much you’ll be paid 

Action’s aim 

Where you can do this action 

Eligible in-field agroforestry systems for this action 

Eligible land 

Eligibility of protected land 

Available area you can enter into this action 

Rotational or static action 

What to do 

When to do it 

How to do it 

Evidence to keep 

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action 

Rotational or static action 