SFI26: Window 2 now open

Today we’re opening the second application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) offer.

SFI26 Window 2 has a total budget of £233 million, which includes:

• £180 million, initially allocated for Window 2

• an additional £50 million investment in SFI26, recently announced by the Prime Minister as part of wider government support for farmers facing drought and rising costs

• £3 million not allocated in Window 1, announced today

We are committed to being as transparent as possible as funding is allocated throughout Window 2. We will continue to keep farmers, land managers and stakeholders updated throughout the application window.

We intend to publish an update on the Farming Blog when 25%, 50% and 75% of the available Window 2 budget has been allocated, in the same way we did for SFI26 Window 1 and the 2026 Capital Grants offer.

Please subscribe to the Farming Blog to receive an email notification when we provide further updates on budget allocation.

The length of time Window 2 remains open will depend on demand. In line with SFI Window 1 and the Capital Grants offer, we expect strong demand initially when the scheme opens.

In this post we remind you of what to do before you apply and provide information for farmers with soon-to-expire Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreements. We also set out what to do if you started an application in Window 1 but didn’t submit it before the window closed.

Applying in Window 2

Window 2 is open to farmers and land managers who, at the point they start an application:

• are registered with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) so have a Single Business Identifier (SBI)

• have at least 3 hectares (ha) of eligible agricultural land linked to that SBI

You can find the full eligibility criteria for Window 2 in the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance on GOV.UK.

Before farmers and land managers start their SFI26 application, please read section 7 ‘Get ready to apply’ in the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance.

Started but not submitted applications

Window 1

Some farmers who were eligible to apply in Window 1 started an application but did not submit it before Window 1 closed.

We kept most of these Window 1 'started but not submitted' (SNS) applications on the system. Applicants are able to complete their applications now Window 2 is open.

The RPA has written to these applicants to explain their situation.

However, some farmers with a Window 1 SNS application will need to start a new application now that Window 2 has opened. This applies where RPA has had to withdraw the original application because:

• the farmer requested a mapping update after starting their Window 1 application, meaning a new application is needed to reflect the updated land details; or

• the farmer has an existing ELM revenue agreement that expires on or before 28 February 2027, meaning a new application is required for the "apply early" functionality to work.

RPA's communication to affected farmers has explained what they need to do and why a new application is required.

Window 2  

Window 2 will close once all funding has been allocated. We will not be able to accept applications that have been started, but not submitted, by the time Window 2 closes as we'll have enough applications to allocate the full budget.

Farmers with expiring SFI23, CSMT, CSHT or HLS agreements  

We’ve introduced new functionality in the SFI26 application service for Window 2 to help farmers and land managers with eligible ELM revenue agreements that expire on or before 28 February 2027.

This will allow these farmers and land managers to ‘apply early’ for the full range of available SFI26 actions on land in their existing ELM revenue agreement before that agreement ends. Usually, they would have to wait until their existing agreement ended before being able to do this.

Where possible, it will allow those using this functionality to be offered an SFI26 agreement and accept it before their existing ELM revenue agreement ends – with their SFI26 agreement starting after their relevant existing ELM revenue agreement ends.

This will give greater certainty to these farmers and land managers about the ongoing management of their land.

28 February 2027 is the latest date that would still give farmers enough time to apply for and enter an SFI26 agreement in this financial year. SFI26 agreements must start by 1 April 2027 to use this financial year’s budget. Farmers and land managers with ELM revenue agreements ending 1 March 2027 or later may be able to apply for future SFI offers.

You can find more information about the new functionality and how it works in section 3.8 ‘If your ELM revenue agreement is ending soon (Window 2 only)’ in the SFI26 scheme rules and guidance on GOV.UK.

SFI in 2027

Ministers have committed publicly to stabilising the main design of SFI for the duration of this Parliament so that farmers and land managers know what to expect in the years ahead.

In keeping with the commitments made in the Farming Roadmap 2050, we plan to offer an SFI scheme in 2027.

Following Window 2 of SFI26, we will work with farming representative organisations and the wider sector to consider how we refine the scheme ahead of SFI opening in 2027. We will share further details as early as possible.

Learn more

Our ‘Get ready to apply’ guidance looks at what you need to do to prepare to submit your SFI26 application.

Video support

The RPA have made a step-by-step video that guides you through the application process, so you know exactly what to expect:

This week the RPA have published a new video that shows you how to fix ‘Land Use’ error messages for land parcels in your SFI26 application:

Please check that your digital maps show the correct details for any land parcels you want to include in your SFI26 application.

The RPA has created a series of how-to videos to help you update your digital maps:

AHDB's SFI cost benefit tool

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) SFI cost benefit tool enables farmers and land managers to calculate the financial benefit of SFI26 actions they are considering.

It will show you how much income you could receive from the SFI actions you want to apply for and the net income once the associated costs have been subtracted.

‘Getting started with SFI in 2026’  leaflet

Discover how SFI26 can support your farm and reward nature-friendly practices.

This leaflet provides an introduction to the scheme, including the actions you can take, the payments available, and the benefits for your business and the environment.

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

Other funding opportunities remain available.

Countryside Stewardship (CSHT) remains open to new applicants. Those invited to apply by Natural England can secure 10-year agreements, combining 132 land management actions and capital grant items.

Additionally, the new Expression of Interest (EOI) process provides a simpler route into CSHT. You can submit EOIs for woodland improvement and agroforestry, as well as new single-focus agreements for management of species rich grassland and scheduled monument management.