Defra has confirmed the Sustainable Farming Incentive will reopen later this year. Will Marris explains what we know so far and what’s still to be confirmed, as well as a few sensible steps you can take now to be ready.
Defra has announced that the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will reopen in two application windows in 2026. This is very welcome news, particularly after the sudden closure of the scheme to new applications in March 2025, which left many farmers extremely frustrated and plans on hold.
What we know
Defra says applications will reopen in:
- June 2026 – initially for smaller farms and those without an existing ELM agreement (Defra has said more detail is still to come on eligibility); and
- September 2026 – open to all farmers.
Defra has also signalled a simpler, more focused offer, with fewer actions and clearer budget management.
What we’re waiting to see
Like many across the sector, we’re now looking for the detail that will make the difference on farm, including:
- How Defra will define “small farms” for the first window
- What changes are made to the action menu and payment rates
- How the scheme will handle budgets, limits and demand
- And, importantly, whether there will be continued support for organic actions within the revised offer
Getting ready now
Even before the full details are published, there are some simple and sensible steps you can take to ensure you can move quickly when the window opens:
- Review what you’d like SFI to do for your business (soil, nutrients, herbal leys, IPM, hedgerows, rotations)
- Pull together your baseline information (fields, areas, cropping, existing agreements)
- Think through what’s realistic to deliver alongside production, labour and machinery capacity
We’re here if you want to get ahead
We’re pleased to see SFI returning and we’re ready to support farmers as soon as the full details emerge, from early planning through to application, delivery and evidence.
If you’d like to register your interest or have an initial chat about what this might mean for your farm, get in touch with the Terrafarmer team today. We’re expecting a lot of interest!
We’ll update this page as Defra releases further information. Keep an eye on our social media, too.
About the author
After studying at Newcastle University, Will worked as an agronomist for six years, delivering regenerative farming advice alongside SFI and soil consultancy. His passion is supporting farmers on their transition to regenerative farming systems, particularly integrating livestock and arable systems to create more robust and resilient businesses.
About the author
After studying at Newcastle University, Will worked as an agronomist for six years, delivering regenerative farming advice alongside SFI and soil consultancy. His passion is supporting farmers on their transition to regenerative farming systems, particularly integrating livestock and arable systems to create more robust and resilient businesses.
