Defra has announced that farmers can sign up for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) from 18 September and start registering their interest from 30 August through the online Rural Payments service. There are 23 actions on offer under the new and improved 2023 scheme, including on soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips, and low input grassland. Full details of the SFI 2023 were published in June this year in a detailed handbook so that farmers can plan ahead for autumn planting and what they will apply for. Farmers are able to be in SFI and Countryside Stewardship at the same time as long as the actions are compatible, and they are not being paid for the same action twice.
SFI to start accepting applications from 18 September
by Jane Hampson | Aug 28, 2023