The new Sustainable Farming Incentive offer will be bigger and more flexible, accordinging to a recent Government accouncement. The changes are being implemented in August, so now is a good time to consider how you can benefit.
In the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) there will be 23 actions for you to choose from. They cover:
- soil health and moorland assessment
- hedgerows
- integrated pest management
- nutrient management
- farmland wildlife on arable and horticultural land, and improved grassland
- buffer strips
- low-input grassland
Highlights to note include NUM2 £102/Ha for a clover ley, and when combining the three hedgerow options (HRW1/2/3) £36/100m run.
You can combine as many compatible actions to your agreement as you like, with some also available to be ‘stacked’ on top of existing Countryside Stewardship agreements. You’ll also be able to add more actions and eligible land to your agreement each year, giving much more flexibility than previous schemes.
Additionally, every agreement automatically qualifies for a ‘management payment’ of £20/Ha for the first 50Ha entered into the scheme.
If your land is eligible for BPS and you submitted a claim in 2023, and the actions you pick are compatible, you’ll get an agreement. It’s as simple as that! There’s no competition. The agreement will start the month after you accept it, with payments made quarterly.
Existing SFI agreement holders will have been contacted regarding their next steps so they can make the most of the new offer. The government has also published a useful handbook that explains more about how the scheme will work.