The first payment scheme within the wider ELM scheme to open for applications, will be the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
Due to launch for applications in 2022, farmers and landowners will be able to take up a Sustainable Farming Incentive agreement on land parcels covered by an existing agreement, provided the Sustainable Farming Incentive standard they choose is compatible with their existing agreement and does not result in them being paid twice for similar activities.
Environmental management will be grouped into simple packages in SFI, set out as ‘standards’, with different levels of ambition; introductory, intermediate, and advanced.
For 2022 these will include:
- improved grassland soils standard 2022;
- arable and horticultural soils standard 2022;
- moorland and rough grazing standard;
- annual health and welfare review.
DEFRA has already opened up a pilot of the scheme but plans to open applications to all eligible farmers in spring 2022, and make the first payments before the end of 2022. Final versions of this initial set of standards are expected to be published by November 2021.
For more information, visit GOV.UK
