Following the announcement that the Sustainable Farming Incentive will launch in June 2022 we have outlined the two standards we think will be most popular from the initial offering.

Arable and Horticultural Soils Standard 

The arable and horticultural soils standard will be available from the launch of the SFI in June 2022 at an introductory and intermediate level offering a payment of £22/ha and £40/ha respectively.

Both levels require the following actions:

  • Action 1 – complete a soil assessment and produce a soil management plan
  • Action 2 – test soil organic matter
  • Action 3 – add organic matter to all land in the standard at least once during the SFI agreement (3 years)

Each level then has a fourth action to complete which differs depending on the level chosen. At an introductory level you must have green cover on at least 70% of land within this standard over the winter. The management is more involved at an intermediate level requiring green cover on 50% of the land and a multi-species cover crop on an additional 20% of the land.

Improved Grassland Soils Standard 

Similarly to the arable and horticultural soils standard, an introductory and intermediate level of the improved soils standard will be available from June 2022.

There is a crossover between the actions required under the levels, with both requiring actions 1 – 3. The difference comes with the intermediate level requiring a fourth action to provide more enhanced management and environmental benefit.

  • Action 1 – Complete a soil assessment and produce a soil management plan
  • Action 2 – Test soil organic matter
  • Action 3 – Minimise bare ground by having no more than 5% of the total area of land entered into the standard left bare over winter

The intermediate level then requires a fourth action, that being at least 15% of the land in the intermediate level of the standard being established or maintained as a herbal ley.

The payment rates available for this standard are £28/ha for the introductory level and £58/ha for the intermediate level.

For further information or advice on applying for the SFI please contact Carver Knowles on 01684 853400 or by email enquiries@carverknowles.co.uk.