With applications now fully open for SFI 2023, some early applicants have already received their first payments.
SFI forms the most basic component of the wider Environmental Land Management umbrella, with the aim of being a simple option for farmers to receive payments based on sustainable changes to land-use. With that said, it is still imperative that when undertaking any of the SFI options the aims of that option are met to the best possible standards. The aims are, for the most part, clearly detailed in the SFI handbook. Oakbank are on hand to help with any discrepancies you might find within the handbook and where more complex scenarios arise, we are able to deal directly with the RPA to discuss these.
The core principles of the SFI are to provide a financial incentive to farmers to improve farm business sustainability, with many of the options offering a reasonable payment in return for carrying out simple actions designed to achieve this. Responsibility has very much been put in the hands of farmers and should therefore be respected by ensuring the aims of the options are well met. For example, sowing an AHL2 (winter bird food) in the autumn will not produce seed which feeds farmland birds over the winter months and therefore this would not be meeting the aims of that option. The RPA has also stated that certain options cannot be ‘stacked’ on the same parcel of land during the same year. For example, a farmer could not establish a SAM2 (Multi-species winter cover crop) followed by a spring sown NUM3 (Legume fallow) and claim for both options. Any options which can be located on the same area in the same year are clearly stated in a table designated for this on the pages for each option.
We would encourage all land managers to avoid looking for ‘loopholes’ in the system, and instead carry out the options they have selected with benefits to their environment as the main aim. SFI can be a great option to supplement farm income during the phasing out of BPS, whilst also providing a good starting point for land managers looking to adopt more regenerative farm practices. For more advanced environmental projects we would still recommend Countryside Stewardship, although this is set to be revamped in 2024 under the new ‘Countryside Stewardship Plus’.
If you have any queries regarding SFI, or would like help with your application, please get in touch with us at the office where our advisors would be more than happy to help. Our specialist SFI mixes for the various options will also be available early 2024.
