The Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 (SFI 23) has arrived and applications open late August 2023

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 30th, 2023 at 1:52 pm

Farming subsidies are changing, and the move away from the Basic Payment Scheme style area payments towards targeted funding for farming sustainability, improving productivity and animal health and welfare, is well underway.

SFI 23 has been devised to improve farm resilience and prosperity. This scheme is more flexible, allowing you as the farmer to choose the actions that work best for your farm.

SFI 23 – Key Points

Management actions to suit a wide range of farming businesses.
Agreements run for a 3-year period.
Quarterly payments based on land management actions delivered.
There is no minimum or maximum area requirement.
The RPA has introduced more farmer focussed visits, replacing inspections.

To give you an idea of the types of management actions and payments available under SF1 23 please find below some examples:

Actions for all types of Farms	Code	Payment
Soil assessment & soil management plan	SAM1	£5.80/ha & £95 per agreement
Assess nutrient management and produce a review	NUM1	£589 per year
SFI management payment		£20/ha (up to the first 50ha)
Produce an integrated pest management plan	IPM1	£989/year

Actions for Grassland Farms	Code	Payment
Take improved grassland field corner or blocks out of management	IGL1	£333/ha
Winter bird food on improved grassland	IGL2	£474/ha
4m to 12m grass buffer strip improved grassland	IGL3	£235/ha
Herbal leys	SAM3	£382/ha
Legumes on improved grassland	NUM2	£102/ha
Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs	LIG1/LIG2	£151/ha

Actions for Arable Farms	Code	Payment
Pollen & nectar flower mix plots	AHL1	£614/ha
Winter bird food on arable/horticultural land	AHL2	£732/ha
SFI management payment		£20/ha (up to the first 50ha)
Grassy field corners or blocks	AHL3	£590/ha
4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable/horticultural land	AHL4	£451/ha
Legume fallow	NUM3	£593/ha
Companion crop or arable/horticultural land	IPM3	£55/ha
No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops	IPM4	£45/ha
Multi-species winter cover	SAM2	£129/ha

In addition to the above, there are hedgerow management options which are open to all.

Other Rural Grants we can assist with:

SFI Annual Health & Welfare Review of Livestock.
Farming Investment Fund applications to include Farm Equipment & Technology Fund and Farm Transformation Fund.
Advice and applications for Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL), Calf Housing for Health & Welfare Grant and Landscape Recovery Scheme.
Countryside Stewardship advice, applications, on-going management and record keeping.
Standalone Capital Grants for hedgerows & boundaries, water & air quality and natural flood management.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Rural Grant opportunities currently available to you and your farm business, please do not hesitate to be in touch with Chris Muir or Chantelle Astley at Stephensons Rural.

Chris Muir, Farm Business Advisor Chantelle Astley, Environmental Advisor
chris.muir@stephenson.co.uk chantelle.astley@stephenson.co.uk
01904 489731/ 07793 609567 01904 489731/ 07801 685670