The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is being reshaped for 2026, with the government confirming updates designed to make the scheme clearer and fairer, improve accessibility and help farmers plan ahead with confidence. At the Oxford Farming Conference early in 2026, Defra outlined a new offer that will open this year and focus on simplification, transparency and fairness. (defrafarming.blog.gov.uk)
This blog breaks down what the changes mean in plain English, what stays the same, the new support available to farmers and what kinds of evidence you will need to collect.
SFI is reopening with simplification and fairness in mind
Defra has confirmed that a redesigned Sustainable Farming Incentive will launch in 2026 with a focus on simplicity, fairness and clarity. The aim is to reduce complexity within the scheme, narrow down the number of actions, and make it easier for farmers to plan and apply. (defrafarming.blog.gov.uk)
A key feature of SFI 2026 is the planned two application window structure. The first is expected in June 2026, offering earlier access for smaller farms and those without existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) agreements, followed by a second window in September 2026 open to all farmers. (Pig World)
Overall, the new offer will streamline choices so farmers can focus on the actions most relevant to their business and environmental goals. (defrafarming.blog.gov.uk)
How JustFarm helps
JustFarm shows your farm’s eligibility as the new SFI windows approach, letting you plan actions early and avoid last-minute surprises.
Tax relief increase to £5 million and who benefits
In the December 2025 Budget, government ministers announced that the threshold for Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief for inheritance tax will be increased from £1 million to £2.5 million per individual, allowing spouses or civil partners to pass on up to £5 million in qualifying agricultural and business assets without inheritance tax from April 2026. (GOV.UK)
This change responds to widespread feedback from farming organisations and is designed to protect more family farms from heavy tax burdens while still targeting relief sensibly. Around 85 percent of estates claiming agricultural property relief are forecast to pay no inheritance tax under the new thresholds. (GOV.UK)
How JustFarm helps
JustFarm keeps your scheme records, agreements and evidence organised, making it easier to work with accountants or advisers on long-term planning, succession and tax strategy.
The £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund
As part of the 2026 policy package, the government announced a new £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund. This fund is intended to help existing and new farmer groups, networks and collaborations grow and share knowledge. It supports projects that improve environmental delivery and business productivity through partnerships and shared learning. (Land App)
Connecting with peers and advisers through these networks can help you tackle scheme decisions, evidence practices and land use planning more effectively.
How JustFarm helps
JustFarm lets land agents and multi-farm groups manage actions and evidence for multiple holdings in one place, simplifying collaboration and reporting for fund applications.
The 25 year Farming Roadmap and long-term clarity
Government ministers also reaffirmed plans to publish a 25 year Farming Roadmap in 2026, signalling long-term direction for farming support in England. This strategy is intended to give farmers more certainty about future priorities for environmental land management, food production and business support, helping guide investment and decision-making well beyond individual scheme cycles. (defrafarming.blog.gov.uk)
How JustFarm helps
JustFarm supports long-term planning by storing evidence for multiple years, tracking agreement start and end dates, and helping you assess what has worked and what could be improved over time.
What stays the same under SFI
While the scheme offer for 2026 is changing, farmers with existing agreements will not lose those entitlements. Current SFI agreements will continue under their existing terms until a new offer opens, and payments will still be made as agreed. (farmersguardian.com)
The core requirement for evidence, compliance and transparent records remains constant. Well-organised records help with Annual Declarations, remote checks and physical site visits.
How JustFarm helps
JustFarm shows your current and future agreements in one dashboard, helping you stay organised across scheme transitions.
What evidence farmers need to collect
A central part of SFI planning and compliance is evidence. The redesigned 2026 offer will continue to emphasise strong evidence to justify compliance and support outcomes.
Farmers should be prepared to collect the following types of evidence:
- Field maps showing land parcels linked to actions
- Dated photos documenting establishment, progress and condition
- Field operation logs and notes explaining timing and context
- Receipts and invoices for inputs or contractor work
- Management plans where actions require formal planning
Inspectors do not rely on memory, they rely on proof that can be traced back in time and clearly linked to your claim. A single photo at the end of the year is rarely enough.
How JustFarm helps
JustFarm lets you capture photos, notes and documents in the field, automatically date and link them to the correct parcel and action, so your evidence is complete and inspection-ready throughout the year.
How JustFarm helps you stay on top of SFI 2026
SFI 2026 will reward farms that are prepared, organised and quick to act:
- Action planning that matches your land with eligible SFI options
- Evidence capture built into daily routines
- Reminders and deadlines for application windows, annual declarations and evidence milestones
- Live dashboard showing what evidence is complete and what is missing
- Exportable reports ready for compliance checks or inspections
These tools help turn complex scheme management into normal farm workflows, reducing stress and improving compliance outcomes.
What to do next
To prepare for SFI 2026:
- Review existing agreements and evidence gaps.
- Update field maps and evidence records so they are clear and complete.
- Plan for the June and September application windows.
- Connect with local groups and advisers through collaboration networks.
- Use tools like JustFarm to organise evidence and actions consistently.
Final thought
SFI 2026 is not just another set of rules. It is a chance for farmers to take control of environmental planning, align actions with farm goals, and build evidence that stands up to scrutiny. By getting organised early, collecting evidence consistently and planning with clarity, farmers position themselves to succeed in the next era of environmental land management.
JustFarm exists to make that preparation straightforward and ongoing.
