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Arable and horticultural soils standard of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot
The guidance on this page is for SFI pilot participants only. Please visit GOV.UK for the official Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme guidance.
Find out about the standard for arable and horticultural soils, what land is eligible and how much you can get paid.
Applications for the pilot have now closed. The Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 offer launched in summer 2023. To find out more about the SFI 2023 offer, read the SFI Handbook for the SFI 2023 offer.
This information is for farmers who are piloting the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme.
How the standard works
There are 3 levels to the arable and horticultural soils standard. Each level has a set of actions you must complete to get paid.
The levels build on one another - each one includes the actions from the previous levels.
If you’re already doing activities on your land that fulfil the actions in this standard, you can use these areas instead of creating new ones. This means you can maintain existing areas to complete actions that require you to ‘create’ or ‘establish’ something.
Anything you’re doing to complete an action only counts towards that action. It will not count towards the standard’s other actions, unless this guidance says otherwise.
When to complete actions
Because agreements will start from November 2021 at the earliest, it will be too late to complete some actions that must take place after harvest - for example, establishing a green cover by the end of September or mid-October.
Complete these actions within 12 months of your agreement start date. This means you can complete the post-harvest actions after harvest 2022.
Actions that need you to create a new habitat may not be practical during the winter months - for example, sowing a winter bird food mix. You should complete these actions within 12 months of your agreement start date.
If you're amending your agreement to add this standard, or to change the ambition level of this standard in an existing agreement, you'll need to complete all of the actions listed below within 12 months from when the amendment starts. For example, if you're adding this standard to an agreement with a 1 November 2021 start date for the second year of that agreement, the amendment would be effective from 1 November 2022 and the actions for this standard would need to be completed by 31 October 2023.
How much you’ll be paid
In January 2024, we reviewed the payment rates for the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot standards following our previous review in 2023.
Payment rates for the introductory and intermediate levels of the arable and horticultural soils standard were increased. There is no change to the advanced level. The increase will apply from the start of your agreement
For your agreement to show the revised payment rates, you need to sign into the Rural Payments service to ‘Generate’ and ‘Download’ an updated version of your agreement. Doing this will update your agreement document.
The levels and payments for this standard are set out in the table. These payment rates are annual.
| Level | Payment per hectare | Previous payment rate |
| Introductory | £29 | £26 |
| Intermediate | £45 | £41 |
| Advanced | £60 | £60 |
You’ll be paid for all the eligible land that’s in your agreement and you’ll have to complete the actions on all that land.
Some actions affect a smaller percentage of this land – for example, establishing green cover on 5% of eligible land. You’re still paid for all the eligible land in your agreement, not just the 5%.
You can also apply for funding for capital items.
What land is eligible
You can use the standard for all cultivated arable land, including:
- horticultural crops, such as field vegetables
- temporary grassland – that is, land that has been in grass or other herbaceous forage for 5 years or less
You can also include non-agricultural areas on cultivated arable land which do not cover the majority of the total land parcel area, such as:
- scrub
- tall vegetation
- wet features
Ineligible land
Do not use this standard for areas of peat soils greater than 20% soil organic matter to a depth of 40cm or more.
Changes to the land because you’re completing actions
The land must be eligible at the start date of your agreement.
Changes to the land’s use, composition or cover that happen because you’re completing the actions in this standard do not affect eligibility, and you’ll continue to be paid under this standard, at your chosen ambition level.
Measuring areas for actions where there are hedgerows or water bodies
Some actions must be fulfilled on a percentage of the eligible land entered into the standard. For example, having a mix of herbs, legumes and grass on 5% of eligible land.
If you’ve entered the same land into the hedgerows standard or water body buffering standard, the percentage area for an action to be fulfilled under another standard cannot overlap with the hedgerow or water body buffer strips. Measure the percentage area from the edge of these buffer strips. If this is not the case, measure from the edge of the hedgerow or water body.
The area can include the 2-metre or 1-metre cross-compliance buffers required under GAEC 1, and the 2-metre green cover requirement under GAEC 7a, where relevant.
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)
If your application includes SSSI land, you will need consent from Natural England.
Make your request for consent when you get your agreement offer. Send a copy of the offer along with a notice form to:
ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk
Your agreement cannot start without SSSI consent.
For more information read the guidance on managing sites of special scientific interest.
Aims of the standard
The aims of the standard are not mandatory but they describe what the outcome should look like if you follow the mandatory actions. The aims are the primary focus for site visits. Read the section of this guide about monitoring and support.
Actions
Actions are mandatory. All actions must be delivered at the selected ambition level.
Introductory level
1. Complete a soil assessment
Aim
A soil assessment will be completed for all of the land entered into the standard at the start of the agreement to identify parcels at risk of surface runoff, soil erosion, compaction, waterlogging or regularly flooding, to inform land management actions. The assessment will include soil texture, drainage, slope and connectivity to a waterbody or sensitive habitat.
Each year, soil structure, soil biology and soil organic matter (SOM) will be assessed on at least 20% of land entered into the standard. This will inform actions to maintain or improve soil structure.
Action
Complete a soil assessment to identify the priority areas on your farm for delivering water quality improvements, carbon storage, flood mitigation or biodiversity.
In the first year, across all of the land entered into the standard assess:
- soil texture
- drainage
- slope
- connectivity to a waterbody or sensitive habitat
Record and keep observations, and review the assessment every 2 years.
Every year, on at least 20% of the land entered into the standard:
- assess soil structure
- assess biological indicators, for example earthworm count
- analyse soil organic matter
Do this on a different 20% of the land each year.
SOM should be measured by sending samples to a laboratory for analysis. SOM can be tested alongside the standard nutrient and pH analysis that is required as part of the Farming Rules for Water.
Required documents
You must keep your soil assessment documents for us to monitor. You do not need to send these to us unless we ask for them.
Information on soil assessments
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to complete a runoff and soil erosion risk assessment.
2. Alleviate soil compaction
Aim
You’ve taken measures to alleviate soil compaction where identified.
Action
Take measures to alleviate soil compaction identified in the soil assessment and soil management plan (soil management plan completed at advanced level only).
Measures include:
- sub-soiling
- additions of organic matter
- natural soil recovery through resting the field
Do not use sub-soiling or increase the depth of cultivation where there are known to be buried archaeological features.
Supporting evidence
You may want to keep supporting evidence for this action. This is in case actions you have undertaken and aims or outcomes achieved are not clear from remote monitoring or at site visits.
Information on alleviating soil compaction
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to:
3. Establish green cover
Aim
Ensure there is dense crop cover across the whole field from early to late winter to protect the soil surface and provide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology and minimises nutrient leaching, soil erosion and run-off. The area and date will vary for each ambition level.
Action
Establish green cover to provide dense over-winter ground cover to reduce nitrate leaching and protect the soil from winter rainfall.
Ways you can achieve green cover include:
- sowing an autumn-sown crop - any crop sown in the late summer or autumn that can establish dense cover to deliver the outcome is acceptable
- establishing a quick-growing green manure or cover crop
Establish or maintain the cover by mid-October on at least 5% of land entered into the standard. This should be targeted at land at the highest risk of erosion or surface runoff identified in the soil assessment. If you do not have land at risk of erosion or runoff, you must still establish the green cover.
Retain the cover crop until late winter.
Information on establishing green cover
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to use cover crops or green manure.
4. Add soil organic matter
Aim
Improve soil biology and soil structure by targeting minimum inputs of organic matter to soil identified as requiring improvements to soil organic matter.
Action
Add organic matter. Organic matter can be from organic manures, certified compost, retaining straw, growing green manures and cover crops or the introduction of grass or herbal leys into the arable rotation.
Do this on a minimum of 10% of land entered into the standard every year. This should be targeted at soil requiring improvements to soil organic matter, as identified by soil organic matter analysis or other evidence.
Supporting evidence
You may want to keep supporting evidence for this action. This is in case actions you have undertaken and aims or outcomes achieved are not clear from remote monitoring or at site visits.
Information on increasing soil organic matter
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to:
- increase soil organic matter
- use organic fertiliser
- use cover crops or green manure
- create and maintaining herbal leys
Intermediate level
At the intermediate level you must do the actions in the introductory level, plus the following actions, to be paid £41 per hectare.
1. Establish green cover
This action builds on the introductory level by increasing the area to a minimum of 10% of land entered into the standard.
Aim
Ensure there is dense green cover across the whole field from early to late winter to protect the soil surface and provide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology and minimises nutrient leaching, soil erosion and run-off. The area and date will vary for each ambition level.
Action
Establish green cover to provide dense over-winter ground cover to reduce nitrate leaching and protect the soil from winter rainfall.
Ways you can achieve green cover include:
- sowing an autumn-sown crop - any crop sown in the late summer or autumn that can establish dense cover to deliver the outcome is acceptable.
- establishing a quick-growing green manure or cover crop.
Establish or maintain by the end of September on at least 10% of land entered into the standard. This should be targeted at land at the highest risk of erosion or surface runoff and light sandy soil identified in the soil assessment.
If you do not have land at risk of erosion or runoff or light sandy soil, you must still establish the green cover.
Retain the cover crop until late winter.
Information on establishing green cover
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to use cover crops or green manure.
2. Add organic matter
This action builds on the introductory level by increasing the area to a minimum of 15% of land entered into the standard.
Aim
To improve soil biology and soil structure by targeting minimum inputs of organic matter to soil identified as requiring improvements to soil organic matter.
Action
Add organic matter. Organic matter can be from organic manures, certified compost, retaining straw, growing green manures and cover crops or the introduction of grass or herbal leys into the arable rotation.
Do this on a minimum of 15% of land entered into the standard every year. This should be targeted at soil requiring improvements to soil organic matter, as identified by soil organic matter analysis or other evidence.
Information on increasing soil organic matter
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to:
- increase soil organic matter
- use organic fertiliser
- use cover crops or green manure
- create and maintaining herbal leys
3. Use minimum tillage or no-tillage farming techniques
Aim
To improve soil structure and biological activity by using minimum or no till to establish crops. To reduce disturbance of the soil and support soil biological activity, direct drilling or over-sowing/broadcasting techniques will be used on temporary grassland that is reseeded.
Action
You should use minimum tillage or no tillage farming techniques on at least a quarter of land entered into the standard. This includes temporary grassland.
Information on using minimum or no-tillage farming techniques
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to use min-till or no-till farming.
Advanced level
For the advanced level you must do all of the actions listed in the intermediate level, plus the following actions, to be paid £60 per hectare.
1. Establish green cover
This action builds on the introductory level by increasing the area to a minimum of 15% of land entered into the standard
Aim
Ensure there is dense green cover across the whole field from early to late winter to protect the soil surface and provide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology and minimises nutrient leaching, soil erosion and run-off. The area and date will vary for each ambition level.
Action
Establish green cover to provide dense over-winter ground cover to reduce nitrate leaching and protect the soil from winter rainfall.
Ways you can achieve green cover include:
- sowing an autumn-sown crop - any crop sown in the late summer or autumn that can establish dense cover to deliver the outcome is acceptable.
- establishing a quick-growing green manure or cover crop.
Establish or maintain by the end of September on at least 15% of land entered into the standard. This should be targeted at land at the highest risk of erosion or surface runoff, light sandy and shallow soil identified in the soil assessment. If you do not have land at risk of erosion or runoff, light sandy or shallow soil, you must still establish the green cover.
Retain the cover crop until late winter.
Information on establishing green cover
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to use cover crops or green manure.
2. Add organic matter
This action builds on the introductory level by increasing the area to a minimum of 20% of land entered into the standard
Aim
To improve soil biology and soil structure by targeting minimum inputs of organic matter to soil identified as requiring improvements to soil organic matter.
Action
Add organic matter. Organic matter can be from organic manures, certified compost, retaining straw, growing green manures and cover crops or the introduction of grass or herbal leys into the arable rotation.
Do this on a minimum of 20% of land entered into the standard every year. This should be targeted at soil identified as requiring improvements to soil organic matter.
Information on increasing soil organic matter
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to:
- increase soil organic matter
- use organic fertiliser
- use cover crops or green manure
- create and maintaining herbal leys
3. Create a soil management plan
Aim
A full detailed soil management plan will be completed for the land entered into the standard. The plan will take account of soil biology, soil chemistry, soil organic matter, soil hydrology and soil structure, in addition to the soil risk assessment, and will be used to target and prioritise soil management interventions.
Action
Produce a soil management plan in the first year of your agreement to identify and action priorities to improve soil structure, soil carbon storage and soil biology and avoid and alleviate soil compaction.
This should build on the soil assessments and include soil respiration or microorganism assessments.
You must review the plan every 2 years.
Required documents
You must keep your soil management plan documents for us to monitor. You do not need to send these to us unless we ask for them.
Information on creating a soil management plan
How you complete this action is up to you, but you can read information on how to create and use a soil management plan.
Further advice and information
For further advice on doing the actions in this standard read the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot: summary of advice.
Read more about how this standard will meet the environmental outcomes and benefits of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot.
Funding for capital items
As a Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot participant, you can apply for funding to support your standards.
Capital items which may support the aims of this standard:
You can apply for these through Countryside Stewardship (CS) capital grants in the Rural Payments service. This is subject to the items being used as described in the ‘Where to use this item’ section for each item. To check where items can be used and the records you must supply you can use the CS Grants Finder.
If you’re successful you’ll be offered a separate Countryside Stewardship capital grant agreement. To be eligible for this funding you must not start capital items work (or order materials) until your Countryside Stewardship capital grants agreement starts.
You may also be able to get funding from other programmes for the following capital items:
- use of low ground pressure tyres
- reducing weight of field machinery
- use of direct drilling into crop stubble or cover crops
- use of minimum-tillage or no-tillage cultivation
- use of controlled traffic farming (Tier 1)
Monitoring and support
The Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot will use a new model for monitoring agreements. It will focus on outcomes and improvement instead of penalties.
Once your agreement has started, we’ll use various techniques to see whether you’re achieving the aims of the standards.
Read more about:
Additional standards you can apply to this land
The land parcels you use for this standard can also be used for the following:
If you apply more than one standard to the same land, the actions for each must be delivered separately.
Further information
See all the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot guidance.
