SFI actions for integrated pest management
Find out about the SFI actions for integrated pest management, what land is eligible for each action, and what you need to do to get paid.
Applies to England
This section contains the mandatory requirements for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions for integrated pest management (IPM). These requirements are part of your SFI agreement.
You can choose which SFI actions to do and what area of eligible land to do them on. There are no mandatory combinations of actions.
What we explain in each SFI action
The details of each SFI action explain:
- the action’s aim
- where you can do the action - this includes what land is eligible, whether it’s a rotational or static action, and which other environmental land management actions or options you can do on the same area within a land parcel (noting that it may also be possible to do part-parcel actions on another area within the same land parcel)
- what you need to do for the action
- when to do the action
- how to do the action – which is up to you, as long as it’s done in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve the action’s aim
- what evidence to keep
SFI actions with an area limit
There are some actions in the SFI 2023 offer that:
- take land out of food production
- are intended to be done on a small proportion (up to 25%) of the farm, as part of a sustainable system – the actions are unlikely to deliver their intended aims if they’re done on more than 25% of the farm
For SFI applications submitted on or after 26 March 2024, there are 6 SFI actions which must only be done on a proportion of your farm. These actions are referred to as ‘limited area’ actions and include:
- IPM2: Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips
- AHL1: Pollen and nectar flower mix (which should be growing in blocks or strips in a land parcel)
- AHL2: Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land (which should be growing in blocks or strips in a land parcel)
- AHL3: Grassy field corners or blocks
- IGL1: Take improved grassland field corners or blocks out of management
- IGL2: Winter bird food on improved grassland
You can choose as many of these ‘limited area’ actions as you wish, but the total eligible area you enter into them must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. This does not apply to existing agreements or applications submitted before 26 March 2024.
For example, if the total agricultural area of your farm is 50ha, this means you must only enter up to a total of 12.50ha of eligible land into any combination of one or more of these ‘limited area’ actions.
For the purpose of these ‘limited area’ actions:
- ‘farm’ means all the land parcels that are linked to your SBI at the point you apply for an SFI agreement – these parcels are shown on your digital maps
- ‘agricultural area’ means the area in each of the land parcels that’s registered with an arable, permanent grassland or permanent crops land cover
Rotational SFI actions
If you choose a rotational SFI action, you’ll tell us the area and location of that action for the first year of your SFI agreement in your application.
It will be possible for you to vary the coverage of rotational actions, so they work with your crop rotation and different sizes of land parcels. This means that in the second and third years of your agreement, you’ll be able to do the action on:
- a larger area than you entered into the action for the first year of your SFI agreement
- a lower area, as long as it’s at least 50% of the area you entered into the action for the first year of your agreement – for example, if you enter 10 hectares (ha) into a rotational action for the first year, you can decrease that area to 5ha for the second year and then either keep it as 5ha for the third year or increase it again.
We’ll let you know how to tell us about a change to the area and location of rotational actions for the second and third agreement years.
Overview of SFI actions for integrated pest management
The SFI actions for integrated pest management are focused on:
- increasing knowledge and identifying opportunities for an integrated pest management (IPM) approach
- creating habitats for natural crop pest predators
- using companion cropping to suppress weeds, reduce diseases and provide protection from crop pests
- minimising use of insecticides
They include:
- IPM1: Assess integrated pest management and produce a plan
- IPM2: Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips
- IPM3: Companion crop on arable and horticultural land
- IPM4: No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops
These actions should help with managing crop pests, diseases and weeds more sustainably to minimise use of pesticides.
This can help improve farm productivity by reducing costs and risks. The actions can also provide a range of environmental benefits, such as:
- increased biodiversity
- improved water, soil and air quality
IPM1: Assess integrated pest management and produce a plan
How much you’ll be paid
You’ll receive £1,129 for the assessment and plan per year.
This action’s aim
This action’s aim is that you:
- understand the benefits, costs, impacts and risks of your current approach to crop pest, weed and disease management for your land
- effectively plan how to adopt a range of integrated pest management methods appropriate to your farm
Where you can do this action
You can do this action on all agricultural land located below the moorland line.
IPM1 is an agreement level SFI action. Once you’ve included this action in an SFI agreement, you cannot apply for it again until that 3-year agreement ends. You cannot apply for it in multiple SFI agreements.
This means you do not enter specific areas of land into this action in your SFI application. The assessment and IPM plan should cover all of the relevant areas of your farm.
To apply for this action, at least one land parcel needs to be linked to your Single Business Identifier (SBI), so it shows on your digital maps in the Rural Payments service.
Other land management actions or options you can do with IPM1
The table below sets out which other SFI actions, CS management options, ES revenue options and SFI pilot standards you can do with IPM1. This is only possible if the requirements explained under ‘Where you can do this action’ above are met.
Actions or options that can be done with IPM1
| Scheme | Action or option codes that can be located on the same area as IPM1 |
|---|---|
| SFI 2023 | All SFI actions, except MOR1 |
| CS | All CS management options |
| ES | All ES revenue options |
| SFI pilot | All SFI pilot standards |
What to do
You must arrange for a member of the BASIS Professional Register who’s qualified with the relevant BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection for the crops you’re growing (a BASIS qualified adviser) to visit your farm to:
- assess your current approach to crop pest, weed and disease management for your land
- identify and discuss opportunities for using IPM on that land
- help you to produce a written IPM plan
You must make sure that the BASIS qualified adviser does what’s required above.
If you’re a BASIS qualified adviser, as defined above, you can complete this action yourself.
If you already have a written IPM plan, informed by an IPM assessment, carried out by a BASIS qualified adviser, you can use it to meet this action if it was written within the last 12 months.
When to do it
You must make sure that a BASIS qualified adviser visits your farm to:
- complete the IPM assessment and help you produce a written IPM plan within the first 12 months of your SFI agreement
- reassess your approach to crop pest, weed and disease management and review your written IPM plan in each subsequent year of your SFI agreement
How to do it
It’s up to you how you complete this action, as long as you do it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
You may find it helpful to read the voluntary guidance on how to complete an integrated pest management assessment and produce a plan, but you do not have to follow it.
What evidence to keep
You must keep:
- a written record of your IPM plan, including the IPM assessment.
- evidence that the adviser is a BASIS qualified adviser, such as their name and BASIS registration number
You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.
IPM2: Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips
What you’ll be paid
You’ll receive £798 per hectare per year.
This action’s aim
This action’s aim is that there are grass margins, blocks or in-field strips containing flowering plants during the summer months into early autumn.
The purpose of this is to:
- encourage natural crop pest predators as part of an IPM 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 eligible agricultural land located below the moorland line. The table below sets out what land is eligible for IPM2.
Eligible land for IPM2
| Eligible land type | Eligible land use code | Compatible land cover |
|---|---|---|
| Arable land, including temporary grassland | Arable crops, Leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops, FA01, TG01 | Arable land |
| Permanent crops – horticultural and non-horticultural | Permanent crops | Permanent crops |
The glossary explains what we mean by land types, land use codes and compatible land covers.
The SFI application service will automatically calculate what area may be eligible for this action in each land parcel. This is called the ‘SFI available area’. You must check this area is an eligible land type. Find out how the SFI available area is calculated in the information on land that’s eligible for the SFI actions.
You can apply for this action on either the total SFI available area in each land parcel shown in your SFI application, or part of that area. However, this action is normally intended to be done on part of a land parcel as a margin, block or in-field strip.
For SFI applications submitted on or after 26 March 2024, 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 the guidance on SFI actions with an area limit for more information and a list of ‘limited area’ SFI actions.
This action is rotational. You can do it on the same area of eligible land each year of your 3-year SFI agreement, or you can move the area each year.
Other land management actions or options you can do with IPM2
The table below sets out which other SFI actions, CS management options, ES revenue options and SFI pilot standards can be located on the same eligible area within a land parcel as IPM2.
Actions or options that can be located on the same area within a land parcel as IPM2
| Scheme | Action or option codes that can be located on the same area as IPM2 |
|---|---|
| SFI 2023 | SAM1, IPM1, NUM1 |
| CS | OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5, SW17 |
| ES | No ES revenue options |
| SFI pilot | No area-based SFI pilot standards |
Use the CS grant finder to search for the CS option codes shown above.
The SFI actions for hedgerows (HRW1, HRW2 and HRW3), CS option BE3 and the introductory level of the SFI pilot hedgerows standard can be done on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into IPM2.
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area within a land parcel as IPM2, this is because it’s not an eligible land type, or the activities are incompatible, or you would be paid twice for doing the same activities on the same land. In this case, that area will be automatically removed from the affected land parcel’s SFI available area in your SFI application.
If this is the case, you may be able to do the action on a different area in the same land parcel if:
- it’s an eligible land type for the action or option
- it’s a part-parcel action or option
- the area used for the action or option does not overlap with the area used for IPM2
Read the information about eligibility of land used for other schemes and funding sources to find out more.
What to do
You must establish and maintain flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips on land entered into this action.
To establish the flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips, you must sow a seed mix containing at least:
- 4 grass species, which must not include ryegrass, with the grass component not exceeding 90% of the total seed mix by weight
- 10 wildflower species, with no individual flower species exceeding 25% of the total wildflower species component by weight
The flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips will usually be established from the second spring after sowing.
Once established, you must maintain the flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips, in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
You must not do the following on the flower-rich margins, blocks or in-field strips once they’re established:
- cut or graze them with livestock in a way that means this action’s aim cannot reasonably be expected to be achieved
- mechanically apply any fertilisers and manures
- 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 existing flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips to meet this action, if they:
- meet the requirements explained above
- are 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 doing this action on the same area of land for the 3-year duration of your SFI agreement, you must:
- establish the flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips during the first 12 months of your SFI agreement – this may involve a preparatory year to remove weeds before the flower-rich seed mix is sown
- maintain the area of flower-rich margins, blocks or in-field strips in each subsequent year of your 3-year SFI agreement
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 complete this action, as long as you do it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
You may find it helpful to read the voluntary guidance on how to establish and maintain flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips, but you do not have to follow it.
What evidence to keep
You should keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action. This will help if it’s not clear that you’ve completed the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.
This evidence could include photographs and other documentation to show what you’ve done to complete this action. It could also include field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices. If you choose to take photographs, read the guidance on how to take photographic evidence.
IPM3: Companion crop on arable and horticultural land
What you’ll be paid
You’ll receive £55 per hectare per year.
This action’s aim
This action’s aim is that you establish a companion crop. The purpose of this is to do one or more of the following:
- support an IPM approach by acting as a trap crop for pests or by suppressing 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 eligible agricultural land located below the moorland line. The table below sets out what land is eligible for IPM3.
Eligible land for IPM3
| Eligible land type | Eligible land use code | Compatible land cover |
|---|---|---|
| Arable land, including temporary grassland | Arable crops, Leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops, FA01, TG01 | Arable land |
| Permanent crops – horticultural | TC01 | Permanent crops |
The glossary explains what we mean by land types, land use codes and compatible land covers. Read the glossary find out what SFI available area is.
The SFI application service will automatically calculate what area may be eligible for this action in each land parcel. This is called the ‘SFI available area’. You must check this area is an eligible land type. Find out how the SFI available area is calculated in the information on land that’s eligible for the SFI actions.
You can apply for this action on either the total SFI available area in each land parcel shown in your SFI application, or part of that area.
This action is rotational. You can do it on the same area of eligible land each year for the duration of your 3-year SFI agreement, or you can move the area each year.
Other land management actions or options you can do on the same area as IPM3
The table below sets out which other SFI actions, CS management options, ES revenue options and SFI pilot standards can be located on the same eligible area within a land parcel as IPM3.
Actions or options that can be located on the same area within a land parcel as IPM3
| Scheme | Action or option codes that can be located on the same area within a land parcel as IPM3 |
|---|---|
| SFI 2023 | SAM1, SAM2 (only if IPM3 is done during the summer months), IPM1, IPM4, NUM1, AHL2 (only if IPM3 is done during the summer months) |
| CS | HS3, HS9, OP1, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5, SW17 |
| ES | No ES revenue options |
| SFI pilot | No area-based SFI pilot standards |
Use the CS grant finder to search for the CS option codes shown above.
The SFI actions for hedgerows (HRW1, HRW2 and HRW3), CS option BE3 and the introductory level of the SFI pilot hedgerows standard can be done on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into IPM3.
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area within a land parcel as IPM3, this is because it’s not an eligible land type, or the activities are incompatible, or you would be paid twice for doing the same activities on the same land. In this case, that area will be automatically removed from the affected land parcel’s SFI available area in your SFI application.
If this is the case, you may be able to do the action on a different area in the same land parcel if:
- it’s an eligible land type for the action or option
- it’s a part-parcel action or option
- the area used for the action or option does not overlap with the area used for IPM3
Read the information about eligibility of land used for other schemes and funding sources to find out more.
What to do
You must establish the 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 that contains historic or archaeological features identified in your SFI HEFER. Read the information about historic and archaeological features, including scheduled monuments to find out more about the SFI HEFER.
If you’re doing this action on land with peaty soil, you should not use legumes as the companion crop. Peaty soil means there’s around 20% or more organic matter to a depth of 40cm or more. The SOM test results from completing SAM1 will tell you if this is the case.
If you’ve already established a companion crop, so it’s growing with the main arable or horticultural crop, you can use it to meet this action. This is only possible if it meets the requirements explained above.
When to do it
You must do this action each year of your 3-year SFI agreement.
If your SFI agreement starts too late for you to complete this action, you can complete it within 12 months of your agreement’s start date.
For example, if you’ve already sown the main arable or horticultural crop before your SFI agreement starts, you can establish the companion crop within the first 12 months of your agreement.
How to do it
It’s up to you how you complete this action, as long as you do it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
You may find it helpful to read the voluntary guidance on how to establish a companion crop on arable and horticultural land, but you do not have to follow it.
What evidence to keep
You should keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action. This will help if it’s not clear that you’ve completed the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.
This evidence could include photographs and other documentation to show what you’ve done to complete this action. It could also include field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices. If you choose to take photographs, read the guidance on how to take photographic evidence.
IPM4: No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops
What you’ll be paid
You’ll receive £45 per hectare per year.
This action’s aim
This action’s aim is that you do not use plant protection products containing insecticide. The purpose of this is to:
- support an IPM approach by managing crops 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 eligible agricultural land located below the moorland line. The table below sets out what land is eligible for IPM4.
Eligible land for IPM4
| Eligible land type | Eligible land use code | Compatible land cover |
|---|---|---|
| Arable land, excluding temporary grassland and fallow land | Arable crops, Leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops | Arable land |
| Permanent crops – horticultural and non-horticultural | Permanent crops | Permanent crops |
The glossary explains what we mean by land types, land use codes and compatible land covers. Read the glossary find out what SFI available area is.
The SFI application service will automatically calculate what area may be eligible for this action in each land parcel. This is called the ‘SFI available area’. You must check this area is an eligible land type. Find out how the SFI available area is calculated in the information on land that’s eligible for the SFI actions.
You can only apply for this action on the total SFI available area in each land parcel shown in your SFI application. You cannot apply for it on part of that area.
This action is rotational. You can do it on the same area of eligible land each year of your 3-year SFI agreement, or you can move the area each year.
Other land management actions or options you can do on the same area as IPM4
The table below sets out which other SFI actions, CS management options, ES revenue options and SFI pilot standards can be located on the same eligible area of within a land parcel as IPM4.
Actions or options that can be located on the same area within a land parcel as IPM4
The table beneath shows the actions or options.
| Scheme | Action or option codes that can be located on the same area as IPM4 |
|---|---|
| SFI 2023 | SAM1, SAM2, IPM1, IPM3, NUM1, AHL2 |
| CS | *Arable CS options: AB1, AB2, AB4. AB5, AB8, AB9, AB15, AB16 |
| CS | Historic environment CS options: HS3, HS9 |
| CS | Organic CS options: OP1, OP2, OP5, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5 |
| CS | Water quality CS options: SW5, SW6, SW17 |
| ES | No ES revenue options |
| SFI pilot | SFI pilot arable and horticultural land standard – all levels |
| SFI pilot | SFI pilot arable and horticultural soils standard – all levels |
(*the other Arable CS options not contained in the table above prohibit the use of insecticides as part of the CS option, so cannot be located on the same area as IPM4 as they’re either incompatible or you’d be paid twice for doing the same activity)
Use the CS grant finder to search for the CS option codes shown above.
The SFI actions for hedgerows (HRW1, HRW2 and HRW3), CS option BE3 and the introductory level of the SFI pilot hedgerows standard can be done on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into IPM4.
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area within a land parcel as IPM4, this is because it’s not an eligible land type, or the activities are incompatible, or you would be paid twice for doing the same activities on the same land. In this case, that area will be automatically removed from the affected land parcel’s SFI available area in your SFI application.
If this is the case, you may be able to do the action on a different area in the same land parcel if:
- it’s an eligible land type for the action or option
- it’s a part-parcel action or option
- the area used for the action or option does not overlap with the area used for IPM4
Read the information about eligibility of land used for other schemes and funding sources to find out more.
What to do
You must not apply any plant protection products, including seed dressings, containing insecticide on land entered into this action. For the purposes of this action, insecticide includes nematicides and acaricides.
You can apply other plant protection products such as herbicides, fungicides or plant growth regulators, but not insecticides.
If something happens which means you cannot complete this action, you must tell us about this as soon as possible. Read about what happens if you find you cannot comply with your agreement.
When to do it
You must do this action each year of your 3-year SFI agreement.
How to do it
It’s up to you how you complete this action, as long as you do it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
You may find it helpful to read the voluntary guidance on how to manage land without using insecticide, but you do not have to follow it.
What evidence to keep
You should keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action. This will help if it’s not clear that you’ve completed the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.
This evidence could include photographs and other documentation to show what you’ve done to complete this action. It could also include field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices. If you choose to take photographs, read the guidance on how to take photographic evidence.
Last updated 25 March 2024 + show all updates
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The government is introducing new measures to limit the amount of land farmers can take out of productive actions. New section 'SFI actions with an area limit' added. 'Where you can do this action' section for IPM2 updated.
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Update to how much you will be paid
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Additional guidance added for each action.
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First published.