Published: 17/09/2024 By Henry Bosworth
The first SFI agreements of 2024 went live on 1 August, and farmers wishing to apply must submit an expression of interest form to the RPA. The RPA will then review the form and potentially invite a further application as part of its controlled roll-out of funding.DEFRA made some notable changes to some of the SFI actions for which funding is available, one is allowing rotational planting of CNUM3 legumes and CSAM3 herbal lay.
Furthermore, adding supplementary actions to the 23 base actions funded in 2023 is now possible, bringing extra income potential. A typical example would be AHW2 supplementary bird food being added to the 2023-funded base AHL2 winter bird food action, thus boosting the £853/ha payment already received.
Further limits on non-food-producing options have been introduced to safeguard domestic food production. The RPA has limited the total area of land into which a business can enter six specific, non-food-producing options. That limit is 25%. However, it can now include:
WBD3 - In-field grass strips
AHW9 - Unharvested cereal headland
AHW1 - Bumble bird mix
AHW11 - Cultivated areas for arable plants
Additionally, DEFRA has refined the wording of many actions to help growers achieve the aims and provided new voluntary advice for every action.
With the labour government looking to recoup money for the deficit, we are unsure of how long the scheme will remain open to new applicants; therefore, if you are considering applying, Henry Bosworth, Graduate Surveyor in our Devizes office, suggests that you do so without delay. For guidance, please contact him on 01380 710535, or one of our Rural Grants experts in your nearest office (below)
