Eligibility of land for an SFI agreement that’s used for other schemes and funding sources
Find out when land that’s used for other schemes and funding sources can be entered into an SFI agreement.
Applies to England
This information explains when land that’s used for other schemes and funding sources can be entered into an Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement.
When land used for other schemes and funding sources can be entered into an SFI agreement
You can enter land that’s used for other government schemes and funding sources into an SFI agreement if:
- you and your land are eligible for each scheme or funding source
- the activities or outcomes you’re being paid for are compatible
- you will not be paid twice for a similar activity or outcome on the same area of land at the same time (known as ‘double funding’)
The information below covers the main schemes and funding sources that could affect the eligibility of land for an SFI agreement.
Basic Payment Scheme
If you’ve used a land parcel to apply for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2023, you can enter that same land into an SFI agreement if it’s eligible for SFI. From 2024, we expect to replace BPS with ‘delinked payments’ which will not require you to farm any land.
Countryside Stewardship
We’re evolving Countryside Stewardship (CS) instead of developing a new Local Nature Recovery scheme. Read Defra’s environmental land management update to find out about what will be available in CS by 2024.
If land is in a CS agreement, or you’re applying for a CS agreement in 2023, you can enter the same area of eligible land into an SFI agreement if the requirements explained in the ‘when land used for other schemes and funding sources can be entered into an SFI agreement’ section are met.
CS Mid Tier and Higher Tier management options
You can do the SFI actions on the same area of eligible land that’s used for eligible CS management options (previously known as ‘revenue options’). This includes CS Mid Tier (and Wildlife Offers) and Higher Tier.
The SFI actions you choose will affect which CS management options are eligible to be done on the same area of land. Read the details of the SFI actions to find out which CS management options can be done on the same area of eligible land as each SFI action.
If a CS management option cannot be done on the same area as the SFI action you choose, you cannot:
- enter that ineligible CS management option area into the SFI action
- use it to complete the affected SFI action
Instead, you may be able to locate the ineligible CS management option on a different area in the same land parcel as the SFI action. You can do this if:
- it’s an eligible land type for the CS option
- the SFI action and CS option are both part-parcel
- the area used for the CS option does not overlap with the area used for the SFI action
CS Capital Grants
You can enter the same land parcel into an SFI agreement and a CS Capital Grants agreement.
Environmental Stewardship
If land is in an Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreement, you can enter the same area of eligible land into an SFI agreement if the requirements explained in the ‘when land used for other schemes and funding sources can be entered into an SFI agreement’ section are met.
ES revenue options
You can do SFI actions on the same area of eligible land that’s used for eligible ES revenue options.
The SFI actions you choose will affect which ES revenue options are eligible to be done on the same area of land. Read the details of the SFI actions to find out which ES options can be done on the same area of eligible land as each SFI action.
If an ES revenue option cannot be done on the same area as the SFI action you choose, you cannot:
- enter that ineligible ES revenue option area into the SFI action
- use it to complete the affected SFI action
Instead, you may be able to locate the ineligible ES revenue option on a different area in the same land parcel as the SFI action. You can do this if:
- it’s an eligible land type for the ES option
- the SFI action and ES option are both part-parcel
- the area used for the ES option does not overlap with the area used for the SFI action
SFI pilot
If land is in an SFI pilot agreement, you can enter the same area of eligible land into an SFI agreement if the requirements explained in the ‘when land used for other schemes and funding sources can be entered into an SFI agreement’ section are met.
The SFI actions you choose will affect which SFI pilot standards can be done on the same area of eligible land. Read the details of the SFI actions to find out which SFI pilot standards can be done on the same area of land as each SFI action.
Landscape Recovery
If land is being used for Landscape Recovery funding, the same area can be entered into an SFI agreement if the requirements explained in the ‘when land used for other schemes and funding sources can be entered into an SFI agreement’ section are met.
Farming in Protected Landscapes
If land in a National Park Authority or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is being used for Farming in Protected Landscapes funding, the same area can be entered into an SFI agreement. This is only possible if the requirements explained in the ‘when land used for other schemes and funding sources can be entered into an SFI agreement’ section are met.
Private sector schemes
For the SFI 2023 offer, the same area of land can be entered into an SFI agreement and a private sector scheme arrangement, such as carbon trading or payments for natural flood management. The approach to private sector schemes will be reviewed by Defra annually.