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Sustainable Farming Incentive: guidance for applicants and agreement holders

What farmers need to know to get paid under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), how to apply for funding and how to manage your agreement.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Rural Payments Agency
Published:
30 March 2022
Last updated:
2 June 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added near-final SFI26 scheme information.

  2. The re-opened SFI 2024 offer closed for applications at 11:59pm on Monday 18 August 2025. Any applications received after this deadline will be rejected. The only exception to this is eligible applicants who receive written notification from the RPA that they qualify for a deadline extension. If this is the case, eligible applicants must submit their SFI 2024 application by 11:59pm on 1 September 2025.

  3. Correction: The Sustainable Farming Incentive Expanded Offer for 2024 (SFI 2024) will re-open for applications from certain eligible applicants from **12 noon on 7 July 2025**. We have written to these eligible applicants. For all other farmers, SFI will **remain closed** for applications. We have published updated SFI 2024 scheme information and agreement terms and conditions for the re-opened offer.

  4. The Sustainable Farming Incentive Expanded Offer for 2024 (SFI 2024) has re-opened for applications from certain eligible applicants, who we have written to. For all other farmers, SFI remains closed for applications.

  5. Added a link to the ministerial statement on the decision about SFI applications that were started but not submitted before the scheme closed.

  6. Added a page for SFI expanded offer agreement holders.

  7. Removed link to SFI annual health and welfare review guidance. This service has been replaced by a new improved offer and has its own collection on GOV.UK - Funding to improve animal health and welfare: guidance for farmers and vets.

  8. Update to SFI23: SFI23 will close to new applications from midnight on 10 June. Any applications already started can be submitted within 60 days of starting it.

  9. Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme information is published to find out what's included in the expanded offer for 2024.

  10. Reminder to submit SFI23 applications by 31 December

  11. Removed reference to expression of interest (EOI).

  12. SFI Register your interest form link added

  13. SFI main page updated to include information about RPA contacting eligible farmers and land managers to express an interest in applying for SFI early.

  14. Published getting paid for your SFI agreement

  15. Detailed guides for SFI 2023 - the separate sections the SFI 2023 handbook - added to the collection page.

  16. Page and content updated for SFI 2023.

  17. Added call to action box for SFI pilot participants

  18. Added link on how to apply online for an SFI standards agreement.

  19. Added terms and conditions, how to guidance and contact information.

  20. First published.

Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26)

There are 2 application windows for the SFI 2026 offer.

Window 1 closed at 11:59pm on 28 August 2026.

Window 2 opens from September 2026 for all farms.

SFI24: guidance for agreement holders

SFI expanded offer and re-opened offer for 2024 are closed for applications.

SFI23: guidance for agreement holders

SFI 2023 is closed for applications.

Information for SFI 2023 agreement holders includes:

  • SFI 2023 Handbook which contains the scheme rules, SFI actions in the SFI 2023 offer, and SFI agreement terms and conditions

  • voluntary guidance on how to do the actions in your SFI 2023 agreement

How to make an annual declaration

For all SFI agreements, you must make an annual declaration to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) for each year of your SFI agreement.

How to make a rotational actions declaration

If your SFI 2023 or SFI 2024 agreement includes rotational actions, you need to tell the RPA Rural Payments Agency about their location and area after the first year of your SFI agreement. You need to do this even if you’re not making any changes to the location or area of these actions.

Contact the Rural Payments Agency about SFI

How to contact the RPA if you have a query about the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

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