Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 scheme set to open fully from July.  

 

The Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme introduced in 2023 is set to be expanded to include additional actions on top of those currently available. These will be available under the 2024 SFI offer.

Expressions of interest are now open for those wishing to apply as part of a controlled rollout of the application service, ahead of the 2024 SFI offer being fully open to applications in July. Applications for the 2023 SFI scheme have now closed, with all new applications being made under the 2024 scheme.

 

Details of the new scheme have now been released, these are summarised below:

  • The 2024 SFI scheme will include 102 actions.
  • 50 actions previously available under Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier have been simplified and added into SFI. The duration of these has been reduced from 5 years to 3 years.
  • The scheme will include 16 higher paying, endorsed actions:
    • Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland (£646/ Ha) will be available from 22nd of July.
    • The rest of these actions will be available for applications later in 2024.
    • These actions will need prior approval from either Natural England or Historic England before they can be included in a scheme.
  • 20 new actions have been introduced to support more sustainable food production, including No tillage farming (£73/ Ha) and Variable rate application of nutrients (£27/ Ha).
  • The requirement for BPS eligibility has now been removed. Those who were not previously eligible for BPS or who have not previously claimed BPS may now be able to apply for SFI 2024.

 

The application process is expected to be fully operational from the 22nd July 2024, however now is a good time to start to plan how a Sustainable Farming Incentive agreement can benefit your business.

The application window for Countryside Stewardship Higher-Tier is expected to open in late 2024 with agreements starting in January 2025.

If you are interested in applying for a Sustainable Farming Incentive agreement or finding out how a scheme could work on your land, please contact us to arrange an SFI appraisal.