Farmers in England are urged to take part in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which is now available to farmers receiving Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments.
The SFI, the first of three new environmental schemes introduced post-Brexit, will reward sustainable practices which support food production and benefit the environment.
It means that farmers in England will be paid to provide public goods such as improved water quality, biodiversity, climate change mitigation and animal health and welfare.
According to Farming Minister Victoria Prentis, applicants will receive a payment within three months of their agreements starting, and payment rates are more targeted and less prescriptive than previous EU schemes.
The scheme opened on 30 June with two soil standards recognising the importance of healthy soil for successful farming and the environment, and a Moorland standard where farmers will be paid to assess the condition of the Moorland as a basis for further action in future through existing and new schemes.
Farmers will be paid between £22 and £40 per hectare for the arable and horticultural soil standard, depending on the activity level. The introductory level of this standard includes testing soil organic matter and 70 per cent or more of land covered with a green cover over the winter. The intermediate level includes activities such as 70 per cent or more of land covered with a multi-species green cover.
Meanwhile, farmers will be paid between £28 and £58 per hectare for the improved grassland soils standard, depending on the activity level. The introductory level of this standard includes activities such as producing a soil management plan, while the intermediate level includes herbal leys on at least 15 per cent of the land.
Finally, farmers will be paid £10.30 per hectare for the introductory moorland standard or £265 per agreement for the additional payment.
There is no old-style application window for the scheme, meaning that farmers can enrol in the SFI scheme at any point in the year that suits them.
For more information or advice on related matters, please contact Smailes Goldie today.
