Applications for SFI 2022 open

The wider rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is launched today (30 June). All farmers who are eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme can apply and there is no deadline so farmers can choose to apply at a time which suits them.

There are three standards available:

• Arable and horticultural soils
• Improved grassland soils
• Moorland

Farmers who take part will get their first payment in three months and regular quarterly payments thereafter.

Further details, including payment rates and how to apply can be found on the Defra website.

We’ve also summarised key bits of information in a previous blog. However, if you’re a farmer who is trying to work out how taking part in the SFI could affect your bottom line, have a look at our recent analysis: Assessing the impact of the Sustainable Farming Incentive on farm businesses.

Using AHDB virtual farms, we’ve modelled the economic impact of taking part in the SFI on farm businesses for the SFI wider rollout (as well as for the SFI pilot scheme) looking at:

• The net payments for various standards including the costs involved
• What this means for the farm business as a whole, including the effect of taking land out of production

We’ve also looked at the attitudes of farmers towards the SFI in collaboration with Harper Adams University.

Our latest podcast also covers the key points from this analysis, and we hear from an SFI pilot participant about his experience so far as well as Janet Hughes (Defra Programme Director for Future Farming and Countryside).

One of the key messages of our SFI analysis was that whether or not the SFI is right for you and your farm will vary depending on what you are already doing on farm and how the farm is already set up. The important point is that whatever you decide, you make a well informed decision and we hope the resources mentioned above help our levy payers to do this.