Getting ready for SFI 2026: how landowners can prepare now

The first Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 window, opening in June, is specifically for small farms and those not currently in an Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme. To be eligible to apply, farmers will need to have at least three hectares of agricultural land, however, this minimum threshold does not mean you have to enter at least three hectares, your SFI 2026 application could be on less land than this.

Previously, we set out the wider context for ELMs and explained where the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) fits within that framework. This article will help provide you with guidance on practical readiness, eligibility and what you may need to have in place with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) if you decide to engage with SFI.

Defra has now released its own guidance on the steps for getting ready to apply for SFI 2026. The CLA is pleased that Defra is seeking to ensure applicants are prepared before the opening of the scheme.

At this stage, it is important to note that final scheme guidance for SFI 2026 has not yet been published. Defra has indicated this is expected in late May or early June. Although land managers will need to confirm final details when the SFI 2026 guidance is published, there are practical steps that you can take now on RPA registration. Should you wish to consider an application once the guidance is published, you can still take preparatory steps now to ensure Rural Payment Agency systems and information are in order.

SFI, along with other ELM schemes and capital grants, is administered through the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). Applications, agreements and payments are all managed through existing RPA systems.

For members who have previously claimed Basic Payment Scheme or Countryside Stewardship funding, much of the registration process for the Rural Payment service may already be in place. Others, including smaller landowners or those new to government schemes, may have limited prior interaction with RPA systems.

Becoming familiar with the RPA’s role early can reduce delays later, particularly once application windows open.

Prior to an SFI application being made, certain basic administrative information needs to be recorded with the RPA. This is the case for a number of ELM and other Defra schemes, and not purely for SFI.

Many CLA members and landowners – particularly those who have claimed for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) or other initiatives – may already have this information recorded. However, it will be worth reviewing this and updating any personal information or plans that the RPA has.

Below, we cover the main process steps, the sort of information members will need at hand, what is generally involved and any other key points to be aware of:

Registering with the RPA

Creating an account with the Rural Payments service

• For applicants accessing the Rural Payment service for the first time, they must first call the Rural Payments helpline (0300 0200 301) to set up an account.

Registering a business

• Provide business name, address and email.
• Confirm the business type (e.g. sole trader or partnership).
• Once registered, the applicant will be provided with a Single Business Identifier (SBI).

Registering bank details

• Bank details can be added once the business registration is complete.
• Applicants should wait at least 24 hours after registration before doing this.

Checking personal details

Applicants can update:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Contact details

Ensuring mapping details are correct

What is involved:

• All agricultural and non-agricultural land parcels must be registered.
• A land parcel is defined as (i) and with permanent boundaries, and (ii) land that is 0.01 hectares or larger
• Since 2024, the RPA has transferred the ability for making mapping updates online.

Important points to consider

• There is a requirement under the SFI scheme for mapping to be correct before making any applications to schemes. CLA members should ensure that this has been completed prior to scheme windows opening to avoid disappointment.
• The RLE1 paper form is still available if preferred.
• The RPA may update maps using its own data sources.
• Any inaccuracies must be corrected through either the Rural Payments service, or submission of an RLE1 form

Digital access and permissions

What is involved:

• Access can be granted for others to act on your behalf.
• The person must have their own Rural Payments account and be assigned the correct permissions. 
• Access and permissions could, for example, be given to family members, employees, or agents acting on behalf of applicants. 

Putting this information in place does not commit a member to applying. It simply ensures that system requirements are not a barrier later on. Defra’s recent guidance encourages land managers to check these details early, as incomplete or outdated records are a common source of delay once applications open.

The table above is not a full substitute for government guidance, and not every scenario is covered. If you are experiencing issues with the Rural Payments services, not either explained in this article or through government guidance, you can contact either the RPA helpline (03000 200 301) or reach out to your regional CLA team.

For SFI 2026, there are new eligibility requirements which relate to the application windows that members should be aware of.

For the June window (‘window one’), applicants will be eligible to apply if one of the following are met:

• The farm business, identified by its Single Business Identifier (SBI), has been registered by 1 January 2026 and the SBI had some agricultural land linked to it on that date.
• The farm qualifies either as a small farm (below 50 hectares of agricultural land) or qualifies as a farm without an existing ELM revenue agreement administered by the RPA’

A small farm is classified as that which has up to 50 hectares of agricultural land. This is defined as either arable land, permanent grassland or permanent crops on an applicant’s digital maps.

Regarding the ELM revenue scheme eligibility requirement for window one, a farm business will not qualify under this group if it has any of the following RPA-administered schemes:

• SFI23 or SF24 expanded offer
• Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier
• Countryside Stewardship Higher-Tier (both old and new schemes)
• Higher Level Stewardship

The key requirement for an applicant into SFI is to have management control for the scheme land. Management control is defined as having “sufficient control over how the land is managed” during the contractual period, and common examples can include:

• An owner-occupier (which can be across a range of business structures) farming the land themselves or employing a contractor
• A tenant on either a Farm Business Tenancy or Agricultural Holdings Act Tenancy. Applicants must ensure that entering into the SFI would not breach terms of their tenancy, and if the tenancy would expire before the agreement, applicants must be confident that they expect to have management control for the full duration of the agreement.

Open dialogue between all parties who may be involved is a key part of limiting agreement issues.

Eligibility criteria for SFI 2026, including land types and management control requirements, will be confirmed in the forthcoming scheme guidance. At this stage, members should treat all eligibility information as indicative based on previous guidance.

The following types of land are eligible for SFI actions, although each action will have specific requirements:

• Arable land (including available fallow land and temporary grassland)
• Permanent crops
• Permanent grassland
• Moorland

Defra has confirmed that, at this stage, it does not have the ability to allow common land into SFI 2026. The CLA continues to work with Defra to remove the uncertainty for farmers and land managers in common land.

Some land might have specific accreditations or designations such as registered organic, protected status (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and historical or archaeological features. You must ensure you select SFI actions that uphold any accreditation/designation requirements. It will be the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all relevant consents are in place to complete the actions and comply with the requirements of site designations. It is important to note that some actions will not be compatible with certain land types (such as those within an SSSI or where there are historical or archaeological features) and this will be set out in the individual SFI action descriptions.

Where land is entered into other schemes, it is vital for applicants to ensure that the individual SFI actions are compatible with any live agreements. This will avoid being paid twice for a similar activity (the avoidance of “double funding”). CLA members have, in the past, had issues whereby the Rural Payment Agency discovers issues of incompatibility with other schemes after the agreement has commenced. While the CLA continues to seek improvements to RPA communications, it remains the responsibility of the applicant to review issues of double funding through understanding what actions can be done alongside the SFI actions in the scheme guidance once published.

Applications to SFI are made online through RPA systems. At a high level, the process involves:

• Registering and/or confirming business and land details
• Choosing actions (once final guidance is available)
• Reviewing and accepting the terms of the agreement

SFI applications are competitive and are expected to remain open for defined application windows, or until the funding pot for that scheme window is fully allocated. Completing an application requires time and careful consideration, particularly for those unfamiliar with the system. It is therefore important to review and confirm as much information as possible prior to the entry windows.

Members often encounter difficulties that arise from administrative rather than technical scheme issues. These commonly include:

• Land parcels not being registered or mapped correctly
• Discrepancies between mapped land use and actual management
• Missing permissions or issues accessing online accounts

Checking these points in advance can make later decision‑making smoother, even if an application is not made immediately.

Ahead of the release of final scheme guidance, the most helpful steps are low risk and reversible:

• Check whether land and business details are registered with the RPA
• Confirm who has access to RPA systems and whether permissions are correct
• Note any uncertainties or questions to revisit once guidance is published

Farmers and landowners do not need to decide now whether to apply for SFI.

In part three of our insightful SFI series, we will look in more detail at what the scheme is expected to offer; including standards, actions and payments, and how to interpret that information in a farm business context.

Gov.uk: Get ready to apply for SFI26

RPA: Register and update your details

The Rural Payments service: Sign in

Register land and update digital maps: How to register land and update digital maps

RLE1 form: How to register land and update digital maps

The Rural Payments service: Give or update permissions