The Sustainable Farming Incentive is expected to open in June for small farms and farms of any size who don’t have an environmental revenue agreement. Those that have capital grants (e.g. for field boundaries) can apply if they don’t have a revenue agreement. Key points are:
- Small farms are defined as having at least 3ha and up to 50ha of agricultural land. Land registered as woodland does not count towards the 3ha. Businesses need to have been registered with the Rural Payments Agency since 1st January 2026.
- All potential applicants should check their Rural Payment Agency account information is up to date, e.g. that they have permission to submit applications, contact details are correct and land covers and field sizes are accurate. If you are hoping to apply for maintaining traditional buildings in a weather-proof condition, apply for a parcel number for this area if it doesn’t already have one.
Guidance notes are expected to be published in May and there will be webinars to help farmers understand the application process. SFI will then open to all farmers in September and you can read more about the scheme here.
