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SFI 2026: What Farmers Need to Know About the Relaunch of the Sustainable Farming Incentive

Lara Garry •

SFI 2026: What You Need to Know

After a turbulent few years of scheme changes, the SFI is scheduled to relaunch in 2026. Many farmers are asking what exactly SFI will look like, when they can apply, how it differs from existing schemes like CS, and whether it is worth committing time now. In this post we answer those questions clearly and show how JustFarm can make the whole process simpler and safer.

What is SFI?

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is the core “universal” environmental land-management scheme under the post-Brexit framework. It gives farmers a menu of actions they can choose from, actions that support sustainable food production, soil health, nature recovery and wider environmental goals. CLA+2Farming for the future+2

SFI was designed to be flexible: eligible farms could pick the set of actions that made sense for their land, receive quarterly payments, and make annual or rotational declarations to stay compliant. GOV.UK+1

JustFarm solution

With JustFarm you map your fields and soil types once. Then you can overlay eligible SFI actions, check which actions suit which field, and plan based on land type, cropping or livestock. You never forget what’s eligible and you always know what evidence you need (photos, field logs, invoices).

Why 2026 — When is SFI coming back?

As of 11 March 2025, the current version of SFI was closed to new applications. AHDB+2Foot Anstey+2 The reason given was that the scheme’s budget had been allocated. AHDB+2Foot Anstey+2

In November 2025 the government signalled that a re-launch of SFI is expected in the first half of 2026. FarmingUK They promised a new “reformed” SFI offer, with confirmed funding, updated actions and clearer guidance. FarmingUK+1

At the moment full details — budget, payment rates, exact eligibility criteria and application windows — are not published. Farmers need to stay alert to official announcements.

JustFarm solution

JustFarm gives you alerts when rules open, change or close. Once 2026 SFI details drop you will get a notification. You can pre-load your fields now and be ready to act as soon as the application window opens. That means no scrambling when the clock starts.

How do you apply (when SFI reopens)?

Based on how SFI has worked in the past, these steps are likely to apply again:

  • Once DEFRA / the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) opens the 2026 scheme, you will need to register or log in to the online application portal.
  • Select the parcels of land you want to enrol.
  • Choose eligible actions that match your farm type and land (soil, cropping, livestock, habitat, etc.).
  • Commit to any multi-year actions (some SFI actions may last 3–5 years).
  • Complete annual or rotational declarations and provide required evidence (photos, operation logs, invoices, dates).
  • Maintain records for the full agreement duration (and beyond, if required for audit).

Because all previous SFI guidance remains on GOV.UK, historic actions give a good hint of the process. GOV.UK+1

JustFarm solution

JustFarm turns that process into a few clicks.

  • Map your farm and fields in advance.
  • When actions are available you can pick them on the map and assign them to fields.
  • Use the mobile-friendly app to log operations, take photos, add timestamps and link evidence to fields automatically.
  • Generate audit-ready export reports for the RPA.
  • Store everything securely, for the required seven-year retention period.

What is the difference between SFI and CS (Countryside Stewardship)

Many farmers wonder how SFI compares with CS, especially with legacy CS schemes still around (e.g. CS Mid Tier or CS Higher Tier).

Here’s how they differ (or used to differ)

  • Scope & flexibility: SFI was designed as a broad, flexible, universal offer — suitable for most farm businesses. CS (especially Higher Tier) targets more specialised environmental or habitat restoration work. CLA+1
  • Actions available: The expanded SFI (2024) offer bundled many of the former CS Mid Tier actions with SFI and added new ones — giving farmers more choice under one roof. GOV.UK+1
  • Complexity and paperwork: SFI aimed to reduce bureaucracy compared with CS. It used rolling application windows, simpler annual/rotational declarations, and quarterly payments. CLA+1 CS Higher Tier and more complex CS actions often required pre-application advice (e.g. from environmental authorities) and more planning. Wired-Gov+1

Put simply: SFI is the universal, “easy to get started” scheme. CS is more targeted, often for habitat, heritage or special environmental sites, and tends to require more planning or oversight.

JustFarm solution

With JustFarm you don’t need to juggle two separate spreadsheets or paper folders. Your dashboard shows exactly which fields are eligible for SFI or CS-type actions, what evidence is required, and where you are in each scheme. That helps you decide which route — SFI, CS or a mix — gives the best return for your farm.

What to expect from SFI 2026 — and how to get ready now

Based on recent government statements, these are reasonable expectations for the reformed 2026 SFI:

  • More environmental-impact-focused actions, prioritising soil health, water quality, nature and climate resilience. FarmingUK+1
  • Improved payment rates, potentially including premium payments for actions with high environmental benefit. GOV.UK+1
  • Flexibility — the ethos of SFI remains: farmers choose actions suited to their farm business. CLA+1

What you should do now

  • Map your land, soil types, cropping and habitat features.
  • Make a list of fields where you may want to enrol.
  • Think about which actions (soil-health, buffer strips, water protection, rotations, etc.) suit your farm business.
  • Start gathering baseline data: soil tests, field-history records, photos.
  • If you manage multiple clients as a land agent, start classifying client land now to save time when 2026 opens.

With JustFarm you can do all of that ahead of time. Once SFI 2026 opens you load your farm into the system and click: you are “inspection ready” from day one.

What to do next (Checklist)

  • Bookmark DEFRA’s news page and sign up for JustFarm RPA alerts — watch for official 2026 SFI relaunch announcements.
  • Map every parcel of land on your farm now with JustFarm(soil, use, history).
  • Take baseline photos and store digital copies on the JustFarm platform (fields, hedges, habitats, buildings).
  • Think about which SFI actions are most realistic and beneficial for your farm, and use the JustFarm planner to see if they could be an option.
  • Get JustFarm set up so you have dashboards, reminders and evidence-logging ready when SFI reopens.

If you want to be ready the moment SFI 2026 opens, get JustFarm set up now. It saves time, removes paperwork and makes compliance much easier — so you can spend your time farming, not filling in forms.