Apply For The Sustainable Farming Incentive From 18th September

Starting 18th September, farmers can enroll in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), as per the recent announcement by Defra.

To facilitate this process, the Rural Payments Agency is initiating pre-registration which aims to equip farmers with essential information, such as digital maps and land utilization specifics, ensuring their preparedness when the application period opens on 18th September.

The SFI incentivises farmers for adopting practices that bolster food production, farm resilience, and productivity, concurrently safeguarding and enriching the environment. The 2023 version of the scheme presents an array of 23 actions, encompassing aspects like soil health, moorland management, hedgerow preservation, integrated pest control, farmland biodiversity, buffer strips, and sustainable low-input grassland management.

Farmers received comprehensive insights into the SFI 2023 through a comprehensive guide published in June.

Contrasting earlier programs where farmers waited a year for payments, the SFI 2023 adopts a more advantageous approach. Payments will now be made quarterly, offering consistent support for farmers' financial liquidity and obligations within the scheme.

The upsurge in demand for new Countryside Stewardship agreements in recent years prompted a strategic extension of the application window for 2024 Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements. This extension, until 15th September, provides more time for farmers to submit applications.

Notably, farmers can concurrently participate in both SFI and Countryside Stewardship, provided actions are compatible and no duplication of payment occurs. The SFI timeline is deliberately structured to accommodate any final technical refinements for a smooth user experience, aligning with the closing date for Countryside Stewardship.