SFI26 Window 2 - What Farmers Need to Know

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is a government scheme that pays farmers and land managers to carry out activities that support sustainable farming. These activities can help protect the environment, while also supporting food production and farm productivity.

For 2026, SFI is being offered through two application windows. Window 2 is due to open on 22^nd September 2026 and will be available to all eligible farmers and land managers. The budget for Window 1 was allocated very quickly and so we’re urging farmers to get prepared in advance of Window 2 opening. To prepare for a successful application you should plan your SFI application and ensure all your land is registered correctly with the Rural Payments Agency.

One of the most important features of Window 2 is new flexibility for farmers with environmental agreements that are coming to an end soon.

Normally, farmers would need to wait until an existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) agreement had ended before applying for the full range of SFI actions on that land. However, farmers with eligible agreements ending on or before 28 February 2027 will be eligible to apply in Window 2 to get a new agreement to follow their existing one.

This applies to eligible agreements including SFI23, Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Stewardship, subject to the relevant scheme end dates.

This early application process should make it easier to plan ahead and reduce the risk of a gap between environmental schemes. Although farmers may be able to apply and receive an offer before their current agreement ends, their new SFI26 agreement will not usually start until after the existing agreement has finished. This helps avoid overlapping payments for the same activity.

Farmers with agreements ending before 28 February 2027 should therefore take a close look at Window 2 and begin considering which SFI actions could suit their farm. With only one SFI26 agreement allowed per farm business, careful planning before applying will be important.

Please get in touch with Clare Williams ([email protected] or 01938 554499) or Pip Maddocks ([email protected] or 01691 655334) to discuss your SFI 2026 application.