The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is the first of 3 new environmental schemes being introduced under the Agricultural Transition Plan. The other 2 schemes are Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery. SFI aims to help farmers manage land in a way that improves food production and is more environmentally sustainable.
Farmers will be paid to provide public goods, such as:
- Improved water quality
- Biodiversity
- Climate change mitigation
- Animal health and welfare
In 2022, SFI aims to:
- Encourage actions that improve soil health
- Recognise how moorland provides benefits to the public (public goods)
- Improve animal health and welfare by helping farmers with the costs of veterinary advice for livestock
SFI standards agreements
You’ll be eligible to apply for an SFI standards agreement if you’re a farmer who is eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), with land in England. Read more information about eligibility for SFI.
Standards
In 2022, there will be 3 standards available, with different levels and payments. View details of the standards here.
Agreements
An SFI standards agreement will last for 3 years. You need to have ‘management control’ of the land entered into the agreement for its 3-year duration.
Payments
You’ll be paid on a quarterly basis, with the first payment made 3 months after your agreement starts. Read more about getting paid for an SFI standards agreement.
Applying
We expect to open applications to all BPS eligible farmers from late June 2022. Before that happens, we’ve invited some farmers who previously expressed an interest in SFI to apply early so we can get feedback and make improvements.
Applications will remain open, so you can apply at a time that works best for you. If it’s necessary to close applications, this date will be publicised, including on GOV.UK, giving you 6 weeks’ notice.
Read about what you can do now to prepare to apply for SFI.
You can choose which eligible land parcels to enter into an SFI standards agreement. It does not have to be the whole of your farm.
Read more about land eligibility.
For further information on the SFI scheme use the following link A summary of the SFI in 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
