Guidance: Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26): scheme information

Get paid to manage land sustainably to benefit the environment and support food production: find out if your land is eligible, select and apply for SFI26 actions.

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https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms

Window 1 closed for applications at 11:59pm on 28 August 2026.
Window 2 will open in September 2026 for all farmers and land managers.

Window 1 closed for applications at 11:59pm on 28 August 2026. Window 2 will open in September 2026 for all farmers and land managers. We've updated the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance to remove references to Window 1 (now version 4.0).

Added a new section to the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance (v3.0) for Window 2 applicants (section 3.8 ‘If your ELM revenue agreement is ending soon’). This explains how the new ‘starting an application early’ (SAE) functionality for farmers with ELM revenue agreements ending soon will work. We have also made the following minor updates to the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance: - Section 7.2 Check your digital maps show the correct land details: added wording to clarify that it’s the correct total areas and land covers for what’s currently on the ground, and that mapping updates may impact any existing ELM revenue agreements you may already have - Section 9.2 When your SFI26 agreement will start and end: added wording about delayed agreement start dates for Window 2 applicants using the new SAE functionality for eligible expiring ELM revenue agreements, as explained in section 3.8

Added limited area actions calculator the section 4.5.1 of the rules and guidance document.