Application Windows
Window 1 – Opening June 2026
To open June 2026 for farms less than 50ha or those with no current environmental land management scheme. This includes:
- SFI
- mid tier
- higher tier
- higher level schemes
Note: Farms under 50ha with a current scheme can apply.
Window 2 – Opening September 2026
Open to all farms.
What’s Changing in the 2026 Scheme?
Agreement Limits
- Annual payments capped at £100,000 per farm business
- Only one SFI 2026 agreement allowed per business
Rotational Options
- Rotational action areas cannot be increased in years 2 or 3 of the agreement
Scheme Options
- Some options have been removed
- There are now 71 actions available
Payment Rate Reductions (New Agreements Only)
- CSAM3: Herbal leys from £382/ha to £224/ha
- CAHL2: Winter bird food from £853/ha to £648/ha
- CNUM3: Legume fallow from £593/ha to £532/ha
NB: The payment rates for these options in current schemes will not be reduced.
Sustainable Farm Incentive (SFI) 2026 Key Dates & Scheme Changes