1. When can I apply for the new, expanded SFI offer?
You can apply for the expanded SFI offer now through submitting an expression of interest form to the RPA. From the end of July, you should be able to apply online without needing to do this.
2. Who is eligible for SFI?
Anyone with land who can deliver the SFI actions is eligible. There is no requirement for you to have been eligible for BPS.
This means new entrants can now apply for SFI.
3. SFI actions – what's on offer?
The SFI can support you to plan your nutrient management, test soil on a regular basis or undertake an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) plan.
There’s payments for supporting boundary features including stone walls and Devon hedges.
There are new actions that, compared to CS (Countryside Stewardship), support farming activity such as precision farming and legume leys.
Then there’s a range of support for providing wildlife habitat and food for birds and pollinators.
In total there’s 102 actions to choose from (summary in the box below). Defra has a FIND tool to help refine the list.
| SFI action | Number of actions |
| Agroforestry | 2 |
| Boundary features | 5 |
| Buffer strips | 8 |
| Farmland wildlife on arable and horticultural land | 15 |
| Farmland wildlife and habitats on grassland | 11 |
| Heritage | 5 |
| Integrated Pest Management | 4 |
| Moorland | 11 |
| Nutrient management | 3 |
| Organic farming | 14 |
| Precision farming | 4 |
| Species recovery and management | 4 |
| Soil health | 7 |
| Waterbodies | 9 |
| Total | 102 |
4. What are the key features of SFI?
You’ll be able to select the best options for your farm from the extended offer.
There is a rolling application window and start dates with agreements starting at on the first of the month.
It should be possible to add additional actions or land on the anniversary of the agreement. Most agreements will be three years in length.
5. Are capital items available within SFI?
There is a capital item offer available now. This has a rolling application window.
There may be a few more capital items added later in 2024 to support SFI such as the creation of species rich grassland. Further details are needed on these.
6. Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier – when will it be available?
Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier options are now available through the expanded SFI offer. As such there will be no more applications for CS Mid-Tier application windows.
7. Will the CS Higher Tier application process change?
This year, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier will move to a rolling application window, with rolling start dates.
This change will allow Defra’s technical advisors to focus on bespoke environmental support. The full process needs to be developed.
Further detail on the offer is expected this summer and for applications this winter. The NFU has highlighted that there should be no gaps between agreements as a consequence of the change.
8. I’m already in a CS agreement. Can I access the new SFI/CS offer?
You will still be able to access the SFI if you're in an agri-environment scheme. Areas that are not in agreement, or don’t have options placed on them, can go into SFI.
In some cases, it’s possible to stack SFI actions over existing option areas.
9. Can I transfer from another scheme to the SFI?
As outlined above you can apply for SFI agreement to run alongside your existing agreement.
Alternatively, from this autumn CS Mid-Tier and HLS (Higher Level Stewardship) should be able to end their existing agreement either:
- at the end of their current agreement year and receive the full payment due for that year
- before the end of your current agreement year, but not receive payment for the part of the current agreement year you’ve already completed.
The NFU has asked Defra to put in a clear process for transferring across, so farmers don’t need multiple agreements.
10. I’m already in SFI, can I amend my agreement to include the new actions?
At the annual anniversary of your agreement, you should be able to add actions or land to your agreement.
The NFU is calling for a clear process to be put in place. If you want to access the new SFI/CS actions before your agreement anniversary, you can apply for a new SFI agreement. You can have multiple SFI agreements.
