Guide summary

Check your Rural Payments service business details and land parcels, including the land use on each parcel
Browse the SFI actions on GOV.UK and note which fit which parcels, so you can apply quickly
Check the end date in your existing SFI agreement document well before it arrives
Subscribe to the Defra Farming blog and monthly newsletter to hear when the 2027 offer is announced
Higher Tier agreements last 5, 10, 15 or 20 years, set by the action with the longest duration
For Higher Tier capital items, complete works within 3 years of agreement start and claim within 3 months after
You need management control of the land for the whole agreement period
You can hold SFI, Countryside Stewardship and capital grant agreements, but not be paid twice for the same action

The rules here are for England.

See what is open to new applicants

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 offer had two application windows. The second opened to all eligible farmers and land managers on 22 September 2026 and closed the same day, once the budget had been allocated. Farms whose environmental land management agreements were due to expire by the end of February 2027 could apply early for their next agreement in that window.

Countryside Stewardship

Environmental land management agreements in England: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT), by expression of interest or invitation, and Capital Grants 2026, which is closed.

Higher Tier (CSHT) opened: September 2025
Higher Tier length: 5, 10, 15 or 20 years, set by the action with the longest duration
Higher Tier actions: 99 base actions and 33 supplemental actions; supplemental actions need an eligible base action in the same application
Expression of interest: Woodland improvement, agroforestry, and single-focus agreements for species-rich grassland or scheduled monument management; no invitation needed for pre-application advice on these
Multi-action agreements: You cannot express an interest; wait for an invitation from Natural England for pre-application advice
Capital items in a CSHT agreement: Complete the works within 3 years of the agreement start and claim within 3 months of the end of that period
Capital Grants 2026: Closed for applications; 3-year agreements

Higher Tier (CSHT)

CSHT pays farmers and land managers to manage land in ways that protect, restore or enhance the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change. It can be used on woodland, farmed land, land managed for nature or a combination, including sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), commons, woodlands and scheduled monuments.

You can submit an expression of interest for woodland improvement, agroforestry, and single-focus agreements for species-rich grassland or scheduled monument management. Submitting one does not guarantee an agreement. For an agreement with several actions you cannot express an interest: Natural England invites farmers and land managers, for example those with certain agreements coming to an end who want to continue the same actions, or who have completed preparatory work. You then get pre-application advice before you apply.

Capital Grants

Capital Grants 2026 offered 3-year agreements for capital items in six groups: boundaries, trees and orchards; improved water quality; improved air quality; improved natural flood management; assessments; and improvements. It is closed for applications.

Management control: You need management control of the land for the whole agreement period
Application route (CSHT): Expression of interest or invitation, pre-application advice, then an online application
Agreement offer: If successful, your agreement document sets out your actions and capital items

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) (opens in a new tab)

ELM Scheme Comparison - SFI vs Countryside Stewardship vs Landscape Recovery

Compare Environmental Land Management schemes to choose the right option for your farm

Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes replaced the EU Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in England. There are three ELM schemes, with supporting capital items. They differ in purpose, agreement length and how you enter.

Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) - Purpose: Sustainable farming and land management actions that protect the environment, support food production and improve productivity
SFI - Agreement length: Usually 3 years
SFI - Entry: Application windows; both SFI26 windows have closed
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) - Purpose: Complex environmental management, including SSSIs, commons, woodlands and scheduled monuments
CSHT - Agreement length: 5, 10, 15 or 20 years
CSHT - Entry: Expression of interest (woodland improvement, agroforestry, species-rich grassland, scheduled monuments) or Natural England invitation (multi-action agreements)
Landscape Recovery - Purpose: Large-scale, long-term projects by groups of farmers and land managers
Landscape Recovery - Agreement length: Implementation expected to last 20 years or longer
Landscape Recovery - Entry: Closed; land must be in England and at least 500 connected hectares

Choosing between schemes

With both SFI26 windows closed, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier is the open route for new environmental agreements, and it needs either an expression of interest or an invitation, followed by pre-application advice from Natural England or the Forestry Commission. Landscape Recovery is closed.

You can hold agreements in SFI, Countryside Stewardship and capital grants at the same time, provided you are not paid twice for the same action on the same land.

If you hold an existing SFI agreement, it continues under the scheme information for its offer.

Funding for farmers, growers and land managers (opens in a new tab)

Check your existing SFI agreement

An SFI agreement you already hold continues. It is made up of your agreement document in the Rural Payments service, the SFI terms and conditions, and the SFI actions you chose. Which version of the scheme information applies to you depends on when your agreement started, and GOV.UK publishes a page for holders of SFI 2023 agreements and another for holders of SFI24 and re-opened SFI24 agreements.

The end date is in your agreement document, so check it well before it arrives.

Plan for the next SFI offer

In its update of 15 October 2026, Defra said it is working with farmers and stakeholders on how to improve SFI for next year, and that it is exploring alternatives to a first come, first served application process for 2027. That update did not say when applications for 2027 will open or who will be able to apply first.

Check your Rural Payments details

Make sure your business details and land parcels in the Rural Payments service are correct, including the land use on each parcel, so error messages do not block an application.
Choose actions that suit your land

Browse the SFI actions on GOV.UK and note which fit which parcels, so you can apply quickly when a window opens.
Check you meet the eligibility rules

SFI26 required at least three hectares of agricultural land.
Follow Defra announcements

Subscribe to the Defra Farming blog and its monthly newsletter, so you hear when the 2027 offer is announced.

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Agriculture Act 2020 Primary 2020 · UK-wide

Read it on legislation.gov.uk legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Sustainable Farming Incentive: guidance for applicants and agreement holders (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK · England

Progressing SFI26 applications (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK · England

SFI26 details and definitions (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK · England

SFI 2026 announcement (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK · England

Funding for farmers (opens in a new tab)

DEFRA · England

Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26): scheme information (opens in a new tab)

DEFRA · England

Find out which farm environmental funding is open to you

See what is open to new applicants

Check your existing SFI agreement

Plan for the next SFI offer

Check your Rural Payments details

Choose actions that suit your land

Check you meet the eligibility rules

Follow Defra announcements

Legal basis

Official guidance

Related guides in Tax & Finance

Apply for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

Prepare for the end of BPS delinked payments

Compare ELM schemes to choose the right environmental funding

Understand Landscape Recovery funding for large-scale environmental projects

Access farming grants and capital funding