Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26): scheme information
Get paid to manage land sustainably to benefit the environment and support food production: find out if your land is eligible, select and apply for SFI26 actions.
From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Rural Payments Agency Published: 6 May 2026 Last updated: 5 August 2026 — See all updates
Applies to England
Documents
- Get ready to apply for SFI26 (ref: v1.0) (HTML)
- SFI26: scheme rules and guidance (ref: v3.0 August 2026) (HTML)
- Limited area actions calculator (PDF, 441 KB, 5 pages) — This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
- Request an accessible format: email Webmaster.RPA@rpa.gov.uk
- Search for SFI26 actions using the 'Find funding for land or farms' tool (https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms)
- SFI26 actions (print version) (ref: v2.0 June 2026) (HTML)
- Applying for SFI26: how to fix common problems (ref: v1.0 June 2026) (HTML)
- SFI26 agreement terms and conditions (ref: v1.0) (HTML)
Details
The ‘Get ready to apply’ guidance is for farmers who are eligible to apply for SFI26 in the first application window (‘Window 1’). It explains:
- when you can apply
- who is eligible
- what you need do to get ready to apply before Window 1 opens
The SFI26 scheme information includes:
- the SFI26 agreement terms and conditions – these set out the mandatory requirements which apply to SFI26 agreements
- the scheme rules – these explain the mandatory requirements set in the SFI26 agreement terms and conditions
- the SFI26 actions – these set out the mandatory requirements for each action
- guidance to help you apply for, and manage, your SFI26 agreement
Updates to this page
Published 6 May 2026 Last updated 5 August 2026 — Show all updates
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5 August 2026 Added a new section to the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance (v3.0) for Window 2 applicants (section 3.8 ‘If your ELM revenue agreement is ending soon’). This explains how the new ‘starting an application early’ (SAE) functionality for farmers with ELM revenue agreements ending soon will work. We have also made the following minor updates to the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance:
- Section 7.2 Check your digital maps show the correct land details: added wording to clarify that it’s the correct total areas and land covers for what’s currently on the ground, and that mapping updates may impact any existing ELM revenue agreements you may already have
- Section 9.2 When your SFI26 agreement will start and end: added wording about delayed agreement start dates for Window 2 applicants using the new SAE functionality for eligible expiring ELM revenue agreements, as explained in section 3.8
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7 July 2026 Added limited area actions calculator the section 4.5.1 of the rules and guidance document.
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30 June 2026 Added link to the 'How to apply' video and document on how to fix common problems when applying for SFI26.
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17 June 2026 The following changes have been made to the final version (v2.0) of the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance:
- Section 1.2 Main changes for SFI26: added wording to explain that there’s 1 replacement action GRH12: Management rough grassland for upland breeding waders.
- Section 3.2.1 Definition of small farms: added wording to confirm that small farms may have existing ELM revenue agreements.
- Section 4.1 Where you can find the SFI26 actions: added wording on how to use the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ tool to search for SFI actions, and that the action codes are the same as the SFI24 versions.
- Section 4.3 Rotational SFI actions: added wording to clarify which eligible land parcels you can move rotational actions to, and updated wording under section 4.3.1 Maximum area limit for SFI26 agreements to clarify the rotational actions example.
- Section 4.5 Limited area SFI actions: updated wording to clarify how limited area actions work for SFI26, including new sub-sections 4.5.1 How the 25% limit works and 4.5.2 Actions affected by the 25% limit.
- Section 5.1.1 Eligible land types: updated table 2 to add wording for the definitions of permanent crops and non-horticultural permanent crops, and updated wording for horticultural permanent crops.
- Section 5.3.1 How to request an SFI HEFER: added wording to clarify that you cannot use a HEFER you’ve already got for an ‘existing’ SFI or CS agreement.
- Section 5.6.3 Eligibility of land in private sector schemes: Added wording to clarify that private sector schemes are not subject to the 3 conditions set out in section 5.6.
- Section 8.4 How and when RPA will offer you an SFI26 agreement: Added wording on what you may be able to do if you reject your SFI26 agreement offer and applications are still open.
- Section 12.1 Confirm you’re complying with your agreement: Added wording on the requirement to submit a rotational actions declaration if your SFI26 agreement includes rotational SFI actions.
- Section 14.5 Transfer land in your agreement to someone else: Added wording on repayment of some, or all, the payments you’ve already received. The following changes have been made to v2.0 of the SFI26 actions:
- AHW9: Amendment to ‘Action’s aim’ to replace ‘outer edges of the land parcel’ with ‘headland’.
- BND1: Correction. You cannot do SFI26 action WBD2: Manage ditches on eligible dry stone walls entered into this action.
- GRH12: Correction. You cannot apply for SFI26 supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) with this SFI26 base action.
- SOH1: Correction. COP2 is not a CSHT action.
- SPM3: Correction. You cannot apply for this SFI26 supplemental action with SFI26 base action GRH12: Manage rough grassland for upland breeding waders. Removed the acronym “NBAR” where we ask for written records of the unique individual permanent breed identification numbers under ‘What to do’.
- SPM5: Correction. You cannot apply for this SFI26 supplemental action with SFI26 base action GRH12: Manage rough grassland for upland breeding waders. Removed the acronym “NBAR” where we ask for written records of the unique individual permanent breed identification numbers under ‘What to do’. The limited area actions calculator has been removed and will be replaced with an updated version for SFI26
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2 June 2026 We've added near-final scheme information for the SFI26 offer. Final versions will be published before Window 1 opens for applications.
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6 May 2026 First published.
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