Which SFI Template to use?
Following Defra’s latest update on the Sustainable Farm Incentive, Land App has released a second Sustainable Farm Incentive template (SFI 2023) to allow you to easily plan and map the new Actions under the SFI scheme.
Before proceeding with this guidance, please be aware of which SFI Scheme you are mapping for, as this will affect which template you choose:
SFI22: If you are involved in an SFI Pilot, or the SFI 22 you will need to use the "Sustainable Farm Incentive 2022" template.
SFI23: From August 2023, if you are looking to apply for the Sustainable Farm Incentive, but are not part of a pilot, you should use the "Sustainable Farm Incentive 2023" template.
The two templates have a different list of "actions" available. To learn more, please visit the .GOV.UK Website here.
Step-by-step guide to building your SFI Plan
Firstly create a new plan by using the New, Use template,
Select the correct SFI template for your use case (see guidance above if unsure).
Select Import from Rural Payments or another import method.
Input the 9-digit SBI number, select the dataset (Land Covers and Hedges are recommended) and click on next.
Name your plan and click on finish.
Now your plan has been created you can start to assign SFI actions to each field parcel, to do so select a feature on the map or multiselect and the right hand panel will appear. To assign a use, select Change.
From the list, you can expand categories or search by action code or action name (e.g. "SAM1" or "Soil" or "Assess soil, test soil organic matter and produce a soil management plan"
You can add second options using the duplicate tool. Please see this guide.
To add buffers to a feature you can use our buffer tool, please see these guide.
To add capital items select your feature on the project (this will ensure your drawn features are contained withing the correct land parcel), go to draw select the relevant draw tool such as point or line.
Add your features on the project and then select Finish.
With your drawn feature or features selected you can assign their use from the right hand panel.
Should you need to split or merge features please see the below guidance.
Available actions under SFI 2023:
Category | Code | Action Label |
Additional payments | ACL1 | Additional common land payment |
Actions for farmland wildlife on arable and horticultural land | AHL1 | Pollen and nectar flower mix |
Actions for farmland wildlife on arable and horticultural land | AHL2 | Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land |
Actions for farmland wildlife on arable and horticultural land | AHL3 | Grassy field corners and blocks |
Actions for buffer strips | AHL4 | 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land |
Actions for hedgerows | HRW1 | Assess and record hedgerow condition |
Actions for hedgerows | HRW2 | Manage hedgerows |
Actions for hedgerows | HRW3 | Maintain or establish hedgerow trees |
Actions for farmland wildlife on improved grassland | IGL1 | Take improved grassland field corners or blocks out of management |
Actions for farmland wildlife on improved grassland | IGL2 | Winter bird food on improved grassland |
Actions for farmland wildlife on improved grassland | IGL3 | 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on improved grassland |
Actions for integrated pest management | IPM1 | Assess integrated pest management and produce a plan (this action applies to an SFI agreement, rather than a specific area of land (an ‘agreement level SFI action’) |
Actions for integrated pest management | IPM2 | Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips |
Actions for integrated pest management | IPM3 | Companion crop on arable and horticultural land |
Actions for integrated pest management | IPM4 | No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops |
Actions for low input grassland | LIG1 | Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (outside SDAs) |
Actions for low input grassland | LIG2 | Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (SDAs) |
Actions for moorland | MOR1 | Assess moorland and produce a written record |
Actions for nutrient management | NUM1 | Assess nutrient management and produce a review report (agreement level SFI action) |
Actions for nutrient management | NUM2 | Legumes on improved grassland |
Actions for nutrient management | NUM3 | Legume fallow |
Actions for soils | SAM1 | Assess soil, test soil organic matter and produce a soil management plan |
Actions for soils | SAM2 | Multi-species winter cover crops |
Actions for soils | SAM3 | Herbal leys |
Additional payments | SMP1 | SFI management payment |