The two main environmental schemes that have been available to farmers and land managers in England over the past year are Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the Sustainable Farming incentive (SFI). However, how these schemes are offered will be changing this year.
Applications for SFI 23 are still open on a rolling application basis, and have been since 18th September 2023, when Countryside Stewardship closed for applications for 2024 agreements, but in January, Defra announced that in 2024, applicants would be able to apply for CS and SFI through a single application service.
This means that applicants will be able to choose CS options and SFI actions to create one integrated agreement from summer 2024. The list of options and actions that will be available from the summer can be found here.
SFI limits
In addition to these changes, Defra announced on 25th March 2024 that area limits were being introduced to some SFI actions, with effect from 26th March 2024.
There are 6 actions which now have area limits on them, which has been introduced to protect and improve the environment, food production and food security.
The 6 limited area actions are:
- Take improved grassland field corners or blocks out of management – IGL1
- Winter bird food on improved grassland – IGL2
- Pollen and nectar flower mix – AHL1
- Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land – AHL2
- Grassy field corners and blocks - AHL3
- Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips – IPM2
From 26th March, the RPA are not going to accept applications where the amount of land in total that is entered into any combination of those 6 actions is above 25% of a farm’s total land.
The RPA state that:
“Taking more land than that out of production on any given holding is unlikely to benefit the environment or food production.
We were particularly keen to act on this before the traditional point at which farm tenancies are reviewed in September.”
The new approach does not apply to:
- Any SFI application that’s already been submitted.
- SFI agreements that have already been offered to applicants.
- Existing SFI agreements.
Help & advice
For further advice or help with applying for any scheme, please contact our Stewardship & Grants Team on 01981 590514.
