SFI and farm records, in plain English
Short answers for farmers in England. Every fact about SFI and the RPA links to gov.uk. Each article shows when we last checked it.
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What is SFI26? A plain-English guide for farmers in England
Updated , 6 minute read
SFI26 is the 2026 offer of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). Defra (the government's farming department) runs it. It pays farmers in England for work on their land. Examples are cover crops, hedge care and flower-rich margins. It has 71 actions. Agreements usually last 3 years. It is now closed to new applications.
Read the guide to SFI26SFI and schemes
What the Sustainable Farming Incentive is, who it's for and what's next.
- SFI 2027: what we know so far (kept up to date)Will there be SFI in 2027, and when will it open? What Defra has said, what happened in SFI26, and what to do now. Checked against Defra's own posts.Updated , 3 minute read
- SFI26 payment rates explained, with worked examplesWhere to find official SFI26 payment rates, rates for common actions, how a payment is worked out, the £100,000 cap, the 25% rule and when SFI26 pays.Updated , 6 minute read
- SFI26 actions for arable farms: what pays, and the rules that matterSFI26 actions for arable land with Defra's yearly rates: cover crops, no-till, legume fallow, precision farming, IPM, flower margins and winter bird food.Updated , 6 minute read
- SFI26 actions for grassland and livestock farms: rates and rulesSFI26 actions for grassland and livestock farms with Defra's yearly rates: low-input grassland, herbal leys, legumes, native breeds and moorland grazing.Updated , 5 minute read
- Hedgerows and buffer strips in SFI26: CHRW2, CAHL4 and the rules to recordWhat SFI26 pays for hedgerows (CHRW2), walls and banks, and buffer strips (CAHL4, CIGL3, BFS1, BFS6): rates, cutting rules, widths and evidence.Updated , 6 minute read
- SFI and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier: which is which, and can you have both?SFI26 and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier compared: who they're for, how to apply, agreement length, actions, and the rules for having both.Updated , 5 minute read
- What is SFI26? A plain-English guide for farmers in EnglandSFI26 explained: who could apply, the £100,000 yearly cap, 3-year agreements, quarterly payments, why it's closed and how to get ready for SFI in 2027.Updated , 6 minute read
Evidence and inspections
What to keep, for how long, and how the RPA checks it.
- SFI evidence: what records to keep, how longWhat evidence SFI26 asks you to keep, why it's at least 7 years, what makes a good photo as proof and how to file records field by field. With gov.uk sources.Updated , 4 minute read
- How to prepare for an RPA inspection (Sustainable Farming Incentive)How the RPA checks SFI26 agreements: farm visits, satellite and office checks. How much notice you get, what they can ask to see, and a checklist.Updated , 4 minute read
- How to choose farm management software in England: 10 questions to askA plain checklist for choosing farm software in England: SFI evidence, RPA land data, offline photos, adviser access, data export and claims to avoid.Updated , 5 minute read
- Sharing farm data with your agronomist or land agent: what to allow, and your rightsWhat an agronomist or land agent should see, read-only access, how BASIS and FACTS help you check an adviser, taking access back, and UK GDPR rights.Updated , 4 minute read
Land and the RPA
Your SBI, land parcels and the Rural Payments service.
- What is an SBI number for farmers, and how do I get one?Your SBI is the RPA's Single Business Identifier for your farm business. What it's for, how it differs from a CRN, how to register and find yours.Updated , 3 minute read
- The Rural Payments service and land parcels explained: check your maps before SFIWhat a land parcel is, the difference between land covers and land use codes, how to ask the RPA to change your digital maps, and why it matters for SFI.Updated , 6 minute read
Crops and satellites
Satellite crop checks, NDVI and what they can tell you.
Looking for how to do something in AgriSync? See the step-by-step guides.
Keep your SFI records in one place
Fields from your SBI, dated evidence photos and an SFI to-do list for every field. Free during early access.