Sustainable Farming Incentive update 21 June 2023
Today the UK government has confirmed that the new and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for 2023 will begin accepting applications in a controlled rollout from August. This updated programme offers farmers more flexibility and additional actions to choose from, enabling them to get paid for activities that support food production, enhance farm productivity and resilience, and protect the environment.
The SFI 2023 introduces a range of actions to ensure that all types of farms can find attractive and workable options. It includes 23 actions, covering various themes such as soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, nutrient management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips, and low input grassland. These actions, when implemented on a larger scale, will contribute to sustainable food production and help achieve the environmental targets outlined in the government's Environmental Improvement Plan.
By optimising nutrient use through a nutrient management review, farmers can not only reduce carbon emissions and improve the natural environment but also lower their own costs. The government aims to simplify and improve the SFI based on extensive feedback from farmers, making it as straightforward and flexible as possible to engage with, apply for, and embrace.
Under the SFI 2023, farmers will be rewarded for specific actions with varying payment rates. For example, managing one side of a hedgerow can earn farmers £10 per 100 metres, with an additional £10 per 100 metres for maintaining or establishing hedgerow trees. Multi-species cover crops can receive £129 per hectare, while a nutrient management review is valued at £589.
The SFI management payment of £20 per hectare for up to 50 hectares will now be applied to all land-based SFI actions, including moorland. The payment rate for low input grassland action has been updated to ensure equal rates for upland and lowland areas. Furthermore, improvements have been made for tenant farmers, including shorter agreement lengths that do not require landlord consent. The SFI 2023 also introduces a range of new actions that were previously unavailable in schemes and makes actions and payments more accessible to those on short-term agreements.
The government's farming schemes, along with the measures announced at the Farm to Fork Summit, aim to support farmers in providing food for the nation while protecting and enhancing the environment. These initiatives are part of the £2.4 billion annual farming budget, which has been ringfenced for the entirety of this parliamentary term.
To provide farmers with comprehensive information, the government has published the SFI 2023 handbook, which includes confirmed payment rates and details for each action. The application process has been simplified, allowing farmers to apply online and see only the options available to their specific farm. Farmers can now choose their own combination of actions in a flexible "pick and mix" structure. There are no minimum or maximum land area or hedgerow length requirements, enabling farmers to determine how much land to cover with their SFI agreement. Farmers can also combine SFI actions with Countryside Stewardship (CS) options on eligible land.
Applications for SFI 2023 will be accepted through a controlled rollout starting in August. During this period, farmers can apply online or contact the Rural Payments Agency for assistance. SFI 2022 applications have closed to facilitate a smooth transition to the 2023 offer, and the government will provide information to farmers who were part of the previous scheme on how to access the payments, benefits, and improvements of the SFI 2023.
The above text has been created using AI summarising the following GOV.UK Farming and food grants and payments press release of 21 June 2023: Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023: Expanded offer to roll out from August