Defra expect to open the first application window (“Window 1”) from 30 June 2026 for 2 groups: small farms and farms without an existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement. Before we do this, we will invite a small number of farmers who are eligible for Window 1 to apply from around 18 June. This is to test and refine the application service in a controlled way, to make sure it’s working as expected before full rollout.
SFI supports sustainable food production alongside practical actions that improve soil health, protect water quality, support nature recovery and strengthen farm resilience.
The scheme is designed to give you flexibility to choose actions that work for your land and farming system.