England’s Sustainable Farming Incentive Scheme Opens Soon

The new approach will spread funding more fairly, target family farms and give farmers greater certainty

Farmers in England will soon be able to apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26), a revised approach to agricultural payments designed to support family farms and environmental management.

The scheme is backed by £240 million for new agreements, building on more than £560 million already committed. It aims to reward practical actions such as improving soil health, maintaining water quality and creating wildlife habitats. Funding is intended to support farm resilience and food production.

Each business will be limited to one agreement, with an annual cap of £100,000 per agreement. The SFI management payment will not apply to new agreements, and most actions will run on three-year terms.

A separate allocation of at least £50 million will support Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements for targeted environmental work.

The approach also encourages reduced reliance on synthetic fertilisers to lower input costs and improve resilience overall.