This is the “entry level” component and should be available to all farmers and land managers who have the necessary level of control and length of tenure.
The scheme comprises a number of “standards” which attract separate payments. Claimants should be able to apply for several standards delivering environmental benefits and public goods over time.
In 2022, four standards are being introduced.
- Arable and Horticultural Soils – introductory and intermediate levels.
Introductory payment £22 per hectare, intermediate payment £40 per hectare.
- Improved Grassland Soils – introductory and intermediate levels.
Introductory payment £28 per hectare, intermediate payment £58 per hectare.
- Moorland – introductory level.
- Payment of £265 per agreement and £10.30 per hectare.
- Annual livestock health and welfare review.
The payment rates per review will be:
- Pigs £684
- Sheep £436
- Beef Cattle £522
- Dairy £372
Details of the rules and actions required under the soils and moorland standards have been published on the gov.uk website.
The government have indicated that the following standards will be introduced over time.
2023 (indicative)
- Nutrient management
- Integrated pest management
- Hedgerows
2024 (indicative)
- Agroforestry
- Low and no input grassland
- Moorland and rough grazing –all levels
- Water body buffering
- Farmland biodiversity
2025 (indicative)
- Organic
- On-farm woodland
- Orchards and specialist horticulture
- Heritage
- Dry stone walls
SFI agreements will last for 3 years and tenanted land must normally be available for that length of time.
It is not possible to claim the soils standards SFI payments on land parcels which are under a large number of Countryside Stewardship Scheme and Environmental Stewardship Scheme options.
