SFI26 actions for arable farms: what pays, and the rules that matter
SFI26 actions for arable land with Defra's yearly rates: cover crops, no-till, legume fallow, precision farming, IPM, flower margins and winter bird food.
Last checked against gov.uk
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- The AgriSync team
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Applies to SFI26 agreements in England. SFI26 is closed for applications; this explains the offer as published.
Short answer
Arable farms can use many of SFI26's 71 actions. These include winter and summer cover crops, no-till, legume fallow, precision farming, companion crops and flower-rich margins. There are also pollen and nectar mixes, winter bird food, overwinter stubbles, skylark plots and grass buffer strips. Rates run from £27 to £1,072 per hectare a year. Each action has its own rules.
Which SFI26 actions can go on arable land?
Each SFI26 action lists the types of land it can go on. The tables below show actions that can go on arable land, below the moorland line. (Arable land means land used to grow crops, temporary grassland or fallow.) Rates are from Annex A of the scheme rules (opens in a new tab). The "where" notes come from each action's page in the SFI26 actions (print version) (opens in a new tab).
Soil health and nutrients
| Code | Action | Rate | Rotational or static | Where (from the action page) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSAM2 | Multi-species winter cover crop | £129 per hectare | Rotational or static | Arable land, fallow, temporary grassland and horticultural permanent crops |
| SOH3 | Multi-species summer-sown cover crop | £163 per hectare | Rotational or static | Arable land used to grow crops (not temporary grassland), fallow and permanent horticultural crops |
| SOH1 | No-till farming | £73 per hectare | Static | Arable land, with notes on temporary grassland and fallow on the action page |
| CSAM3 | Herbal leys | £224 per hectare | Rotational or static | Arable land, fallow, temporary grassland and improved permanent grassland |
| CNUM3 | Legume fallow | £532 per hectare | Rotational or static | Arable land, fallow, temporary grassland and horticultural permanent crops |
Precision farming and integrated pest management
| Code | Action | Rate | Rotational or static | Limited to 25%? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRF1 | Variable rate application of nutrients | £27 per hectare | Rotational or static | No |
| PRF2 | Camera or remote sensor guided herbicide spraying | £43 per hectare | Rotational or static | No |
| PRF4 | Mechanical robotic weeding | £150 per hectare | Rotational or static | No |
| CIPM2 | Flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips | £798 per hectare | Rotational or static | Yes |
| CIPM3 | Companion crop on arable and horticultural land | £55 per hectare | Rotational or static | No |
| CIPM4 | No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops | £45 per hectare | Rotational on arable crops | No |
CIPM4 cannot go on temporary grassland, fallow land or maize. PRF4 and SOH3 cannot go on temporary grassland (SFI26 actions (opens in a new tab)).
Farmland wildlife on arable land
| Code | Action | Rate | Rotational or static | Limited to 25%? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAHL1 | Pollen and nectar flower mix | £739 per hectare | Rotational or static | Yes |
| CAHL2 | Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land | £648 per hectare | Rotational or static | Yes |
| AHW2 | Supplementary winter bird food | £732 per tonne (maximum 1 tonne for every 2 hectares of CAHL2) | Supplement to CAHL2 | No |
| CAHL3 | Grassy field corners or blocks | £590 per hectare | Static | Yes |
| AHW3 | Beetle banks | £764 per hectare | Static | No |
| AHW4 | Skylark plots | £11 per plot (minimum 2 plots) | Rotational or static | No |
| AHW5 | Nesting plots for lapwing | £765 per hectare | Rotational or static | No |
| AHW6 | Basic overwinter stubble | £58 per hectare | Rotational or static | No |
| AHW7 | Enhanced overwinter stubble | £589 per hectare | Rotational | Yes |
| AHW8 | Whole crop spring cereals and overwinter stubble | £596 per hectare | Rotational or static | No |
| AHW9 | Unharvested cereal headland | £1,072 per hectare | Rotational or static | Yes |
| AHW10 | Low input harvested cereal crop | £354 per hectare | Rotational or static | No |
| AHW11 | Cultivated areas for arable plants | £660 per hectare | Rotational or static | Yes |
AHW6 and AHW7 are for arable land used to grow cereals (not maize or sorghum), oilseed rape or linseed. AHW9 is for land growing spring cereal crops (not maize). AHW10 cannot go on maize (SFI26 actions (opens in a new tab)). AHW2 is the one "agreement level" action. You enter tonnes rather than land (scheme rules, section 4.8 (opens in a new tab)).
Buffer strips and water
| Code | Action | Rate | Rotational or static | Limited to 25%? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAHL4 | 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land | £515 per hectare | Static | No |
| BFS1 | 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land | £707 per hectare | Static | No |
| BFS6 | 6m to 12m habitat strip next to watercourses | £742 per hectare | Static | No |
| WBD3 | In-field grass strips | £765 per hectare | Static | Yes |
| WBD4 | Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input | £489 per hectare | Static | No |
More detail on strips, hedges and walls is in hedgerows and buffer strips in SFI26. Organic farms also have organic conversion and organic land management actions for rotational land (OFC3 and OFM4).
What does rotational or static mean for an arable action?
A static action must stay in the same place, on the same area, every year. A rotational action can move to another suitable field in years 2 and 3. That suits cover crops and stubbles that follow the rotation. With actions marked "rotational or static", you choose (scheme rules, sections 4.3 and 4.4 (opens in a new tab)).
- The area you enter for a rotational action in year 1 is its maximum for the agreement. You can go down in year 2 and back up in year 3, but never above the year 1 area (section 4.3.1 (opens in a new tab)).
- Near the end of years 1 and 2, send a rotational actions declaration. It tells the RPA (Rural Payments Agency) where the actions will be next year. You won't be paid for the next year until you do (section 4.3.2 (opens in a new tab)).
Which arable actions count towards the 25% limit?
Limited-area actions together can cover no more than 25% of your farm's agricultural area. This counts all your SFI agreements and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) agreements from 2025 onwards. On arable land, the SFI26 limited-area actions are CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CIPM2, WBD3, AHW7, AHW9 and AHW11 (scheme rules, section 4.5 and table 2 (opens in a new tab)). Grassland actions CIGL1 and CIGL2 are limited too.
What evidence should an arable farm keep?
“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”
For arable actions, that usually means seed invoices and mixes, drilling and destruction dates, spray and fertiliser records, and dated photos taken in the right field. Keep it all for at least 7 years after the agreement ends (section 12.4 (opens in a new tab)). See SFI evidence: what to keep.
Common questions
Can I put a winter cover crop and a summer cover crop on the same land?
Each action page lists which other actions can go on the same area. Before you plan both, check the 'other actions or options you can do' table. It is on the CSAM2 and SOH3 pages in the SFI26 actions print version.
Is there an SFI26 action for soil testing or a soil management plan?
No. The SFI 2024 plan actions, including the soil management plan action, are not in the SFI26 actions list.
Do I need an agronomist to choose SFI26 actions?
No. The scheme rules say you can apply for SFI26 actions without expert advice or anyone's sign-off first. Many farmers still ask an adviser to check the plan.
Can arable land in a flood risk area have a grass buffer strip?
For CAHL4, yes. The SFI26 version of the action says you can do it on eligible land in a flood risk area. It also explains what to do if flood works damage the strip.
Sources
Every source was checked on 25 October 2026. If something has changed, tell us at info@agrisync.co.uk.
- 1.SFI26: scheme rules and guidance (opens in a new tab), GOV.UKv4.0, August 2026 (page updated 23 September 2026)
- 2.SFI26 actions (print version) (opens in a new tab), GOV.UKv2.0, June 2026 (page updated 23 September 2026)
- 3.Find funding for land or farms (opens in a new tab), GOV.UK
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