SUSTAINABLE FARMING INCENTIVE: SIX NEW STANDARDS ADDED FOR 2023 - Blog

SUSTAINABLE FARMING INCENTIVE: SIX NEW STANDARDS ADDED FOR 2023

SUSTAINABLE FARMING INCENTIVE: SIX NEW STANDARDS ADDED FOR 2023

Rural George F. White 30th January 2023

DEFRA have recently added six new standards to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) which are available to apply for in 2023. This is likely to make the scheme more attractive to farmers, with payments available for a number of new actions that previously were not eligible for funding. Examples of this new funding include producing a pest management plan or establishing companion crops.

Existing SFI agreement holders can add these standards to their agreements alongside adding land parcels. Some of the actions are rotational so that farmers can incorporate them into their farm system and annual rotation. The new standards are:

·        the hedgerows standard

·        the integrated pest management standard

·        the nutrient management standard

·        the arable and horticultural land standard

·        the improved grassland standard

·        the low input grassland standard

 

The tables below give more information about each of the new standards, with the actions within each standard and the payment rates available:

 

Hedgerows Standard

Action

Payment Rate

New Action or Variation of CS Option

Assess and record Condition

£3 per 100 metres (one side)

New

Manage so there’s a range of different heights

£10 per 100 metres (one side)

BE3 variation

Maintain existing or establish new hedgerow trees so there are at least 1 tree per 100 metres on average

£10 per 100 metres (both sides)

New

 

Integrated Pest Management Standard

Action

Payment Rate

New Action or Variation of CS Option

Complete an integrated pest management (IPM) assessment and produce an IPM plan

£989 per year

New

Establish and maintain flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips

£673 per hectare

AB8 variation

Establish a companion crop

£55 per hectare

New

No use of insecticide

£45 per hectare

New

 

Nutrient Management Standard

Action

Payment Rate

New Action or Variation of CS Option

Complete a nutrient management (NM) assessment and produce an NM review report

£589 per year

New

Establish and maintain legumes

£102 per hectare

GS4 variation

Establish and maintain legume fallow

£593 per hectare

AB15 variation

 

Arable and Horticultural Land Standard

Action

Payment Rate

New Action or Variation of CS Option

Establish and maintain blocks or strips of pollen and nectar flower mix

£614 per hectare

AB1 variation

Establish and maintain blocks or strips of winter bird food

£732 per hectare

AB9 variation

Establish and maintain grassy field corners and blocks

£590 per hectare

New

Establish and maintain a 4m-12m buffer strip on arable and horticultural land

£451 per hectare

SW1 variation

 

Improved Grassland Standard

Action

Payment Rate

New Action or Variation of CS Option

Take grassland field corners and blocks out of management

£333 per hectare

GS1 variation

Maintain improved grassland to provide winter bird food

£474 per hectare

GS3 variation

Establish and maintain a 4m-12m buffer strip on grassland

£235 per hectare

SW2 variation

 

Low Input Grassland Standard

Action

Payment Rate

New Action or Variation of CS Option

Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (outside SDAs)

£151 per hectare (indicative)

GS2 variation

Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (SDAs)

£98 per hectare

GS5 variation

 

For further information, please contact a member of our Rural team on 0333 920 2220.

                                

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