Is Your Farm Ready for a Mid-Year SFI Check? A Simple Prep Guide
As the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) matures, mid-year inspections are no longer rare, they’re part of the new normal. Whether you're participating in just one action or managing multiple schemes across your holding, being prepared isn’t optional.
DEFRA has made it clear: evidence matters. And with payment schedules now tied more directly to delivery, the risk of delays, or clawbacks, for missing data is growing. Mid-season compliance reviews are now popping up across the country, and some farms are already facing retrospective checks.
So, what should you do now to make sure your farm’s SFI records are solid?
This blog walks you through a simple, practical checklist to self-assess your current standing, and how JustFarm helps you stay inspection-ready without drowning in paperwork.
Why Are Mid-Year Checks Increasing?
The SFI is designed around ongoing delivery, not just annual sign-off. That means Natural England, the RPA, or even remote inspectors may request supporting evidence at any point.
We’re seeing a growing trend of:
- Spot checks to ensure baseline actions have begun
- Requests for photographic or field operation evidence
- Checks on soil management, hedgerow activity, and nutrient planning
- Desk-based reviews asking for documentation or mapped activity
The message is clear: deliver, document, and be ready to prove it.
Self-Check: Is Your SFI Evidence Ready?
Use this mid-year checklist to assess where you stand:
✅ Have you started all actions you signed up for?
If you committed to actions like CSAM1 (soil assessment) or CNUM1 (nutrient review), those activities should be in motion and evidence should already exist. Delayed delivery can raise red flags.
✅ Is your evidence easy to find, not just saved ‘somewhere’?
A photo on your phone or a spreadsheet on your laptop doesn’t count unless it’s organised and retrievable on request. Can you pull together proof of each action within 24 hours?
✅ Are field operations being logged clearly and consistently?
This includes grazing, cutting, applications, and hedge work. Even a short note logged per field can be enough, if it’s dated and complete.
✅ Have you updated your soil, pest, or nutrient plans?
Plans need to reflect what’s actually happening. If the plan says one thing, and your fields say another, that’s a problem.
✅ Do you know your evidence deadlines?
For example, some actions require delivery before winter, while others expect a full season of activity. Make sure you're pacing your compliance.
How JustFarm Keeps You Inspection-Ready
With JustFarm, every part of your SFI recordkeeping is centralised and simple:
🗂️ One place for all actions
Track every action you've signed up for with clear checklists, reminders, and evidence prompts built right in.
📊 Capture evidence on the go
Upload photos, notes, or files straight from your phone, directly into each scheme action, already tagged and timestamped.
📝 Log field operations in seconds
Our easy 'field notes' system lets you capture fertiliser use, hedge cutting, or grazing rotations without overthinking it. Just tap, write, done.
📊 Auto-generated audit reports
Need to prove compliance fast? JustFarm lets you generate an instant evidence pack for each scheme, ideal if you get that inspection call.
🔔 Timely reminders
Never miss a deadline or a required action. JustFarm keeps you on track all year round.
Whether you're a farmer managing your own scheme or a land agent supporting multiple holdings, JustFarm turns a potentially stressful inspection into a non-event.
Land Agents: Mid-Year Checks Are Your Moment to Shine
Land agents are under increasing pressure to prove they’re adding value—mid-year SFI checks offer a perfect opportunity. Proactive evidence reviews and risk assessments can position you as the go-to advisor who keeps clients protected and payments flowing.
With JustFarm, you can:
- Monitor client scheme progress from one central dashboard
- Identify at-risk farms and take early action
- Create bulk audit reports with the click of a button
- Grow your client base with scalable tools
Leading land agents are already using JustFarm to manage 30+ farms at once—without drowning in spreadsheets or email chains.
Final Thought: Don’t Wait for the Knock
The SFI isn’t just about ticking boxes at the end of the year. It’s about proving delivery, throughout the year. Mid-season checks are just the start of a longer shift toward evidence-led policy.
But with the right tools and a simple prep process, you don’t have to be caught out.