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SFI option focus for Lincolnshire farmers

Mon 21 Oct 2024

 

The new extended SFI offer for 2024 has now been open for a few months. The expression of interest stage has now been removed so applications can be submitted at a greater pace.

For those with a current SFI scheme or countryside stewardship you can layer options over the top, maximising support as long as double funding is avoided. There are currently 102 actions to consider, which are predominantly three year actions. The actions are very flexible, allowing the farmer to choose actions based on their specific circumstances.

SFI will not completely cover everything lost from BPS, but these are some reasons why SFI should be considered:

·      Quarterly payments - allowing for better cash flow management throughout the year.

·      Flexibility - actions can be selected from the whole list, some are static and others rotational. Rotational options are allowed to be decreased by 50% annually to suit management decisions.

·      Manage risk - climate is becoming increasingly challenging. SFI options can be used to target less productive areas or gain data to create future management plans. If you want to alter your business to become more resilient, some options will be able to support you to do so.

·      Ability to stack options - in some parcels, multiple options can be layered to provide a greater £/ha.

Popular actions:

General:

  • CSAM1: The soil assessment and management plan - many are already collecting soil analysis to guide crop management input decisions. This action provides support to collect the soil assessments. It should be noted that soil organic matter is key to this action but is also a useful piece of information for the farm business.
     
  • CNUM1: Assess nutrient management and produce a review report - this is a requirement of red tractor. Provides the ability to highlight use efficiencies and limit losses.
     
  • CIPM1: Assess integrated pest management and produce a plan - this is a requirement of red tractor.  

Arable focus:

  • CIPM4: No use of insecticides - popular on spring cropping. This is a rotational option.
     
  • CAHL2: Winter bird food on arable land - can be rotational or static. Could be targeted in less productive areas of the farm. Will provide winter feed for birds.
     
  • CNUM3: Legume fallow - can be static or rotational, could be a useful break crop option or blackgrass control option.

Grassland focus:

  • CNUM2: Legumes on improved grassland – can be rotational or static. Legumes provide greater protein in the livestock feed, along with their ability to naturally fix nitrogen.
     
  • CSAM3: Herbal leys – requirements for these are a lot more flexible than in the previous CS option. They typically contain a mixture of species with different rooting depths, benefiting the soil, management of weather extremes and livestock diets.

If you are considering your options and would like to discuss the actions under the 2024 scheme please do call Abi Saunders on 07930 592030 or click here to email Abi.