The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) aims to help farmers manage land in a way that improves food production and is more environmentally sustainable. It is now open to all farmers including new entrants, non-farming land managers and smallholders.
Details of the SFI options available in 2024 are now available and this includes access to the options currently available in Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier (CS MT) as part of an SFI agreement.
You can apply for an SFI agreement if:
- you’re a farmer or land manager
- you have management control of the land you want to enter into SFI actions
The previous requirement that you needed to be eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in either 2022 or 2023 no longer applies: this means that groups that were not eligible for BPS are now eligible to apply for the expanded SFI offer.
A new tool – Finding Funding for Land or Farms – has been introduced to help farmers select actions through the Sustainable Farming Incentive
Note that there is also an overview of the funding schemes available to farmers, growers and land managers
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Funding to support farmers to protect the environment, support food production and improve productivity
Application deadline:
The expanded SFI offer will be introduced in Summer 2024. You can apply for a 3-year or 5-year SFI agreement.