Following earlier announcements, DEFRA have provided further details on the return of the SFI scheme, including the number of actions, payment rates and who can apply.
When will the scheme open?
The scheme will reopen in June 2026, initially for a limited window and only for small farmers and those without an existing ELM agreement, before opening fully in September, again for a limited but unspecified time.
Who can apply?
The scheme will initially be available to farmers with at least 7.4 acres but less than 124 acres of land and those without an existing ELM agreement.
An existing ELM agreement includes a previous SFI, Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier, Higher-Tier and Higher-Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement.
It does not include non-RPA schemes, such as private sector schemes or Landscape Recovery.
Any farms with more than 7.4 acres of land will be able to apply from September.
What’s available?
71 of the 102 actions previously available, will again be available; crucially this includes Herbal Leys (CSAM3) and other popular actions.
What has changed?
Aside from a reduction in the number of available actions, other changes have been made:
The payment rates for some upland actions will increase. However, the payment rates for CSAM3: Herbal leys, CAHL2: Winter bird food and CNUM3: Legume fallow, will reduce respectively from £382/ha to £224/ha, from £853/ha to £648/ha and from £593/ha to £532/ha. The increased rates will be retroactive, applying to existing agreements as well as new but the reductions will not.
There will no longer be an annual management payment (previously £20/ha).
There will be a cap of one agreement per business and a new annual agreement cap of £100,000 will also apply.
Rotational actions will continue to be available and can be changed each year or rotated between parcels. However, their area cannot be increased beyond the area approved in Year 1.
AHW7: Enhanced overwinter stubble has also been added to the list of capped actions and will be subject to the 25% area limit cap, which already covers some actions.
5-year actions will no longer be available and supplements will only be available in the same agreement as their base action.
For a full list of actions and payment rates or for help and advice preparing for the relaunch of SFI, contact 01823 653424 to be put in touch with your local professional.
SFI to reopen in June for a limited time.
71 actions available for farmers without an existing ELM agreement or with less than 124 acres.
Call 01823 653424 for advice and assistance preparing in advance.
