Plan Your SFI 2026 Agreement with the JustFarm SFI Planner

Aerial view of farmland

Action Library

Find detailed information about actions

AHW10

AHW10: Low input harvested cereal crop

£354.00

per hectare · yearly

info Summary

Establish and manage a low-input autumn or spring cereal crop in strips or plots, using a reduced seed rate to create an open structure that benefits wildflowers and farmland birds until harvest.

format_list_bulleted What to do

Establish a low seed rate autumn or spring cereal crop in strips or plots. Manage it until harvest, which should not be before mid-July. There are restrictions on insecticide and herbicide use.

schedule When to do

This action must be performed each year for its 3-year duration. If the start date is too late to establish the crop, it must be done within 12 months of the start date.

checklist How to do

Follow the mandatory requirements of the action in a way that can be reasonably expected to achieve its aim.

description Evidence Required

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

  • field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
  • photographs or other documentation

If it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.

tips_and_updates Additional Advice

Advice is provided on choosing cereal crops, selecting locations with low weed levels, and sowing methods such as reduced seed rates (50-60% of normal) and wider row spacing. It is also advised to avoid in-crop mechanical activities between May and harvest.

View Official Guidelines

Access detailed information about this action on the RPA website

open_in_new Visit RPA Website

SFI 2026 Announcement

Read details about SFI 2026 changes, definitions, and what to expect on the Defra farming blog

article Read Blog Post
smart_toy

Ask Tom

Initializing assistant...