SFI26 actions for grassland and livestock farms: rates and rules

Which SFI26 actions suit grassland and livestock farms?

Each SFI26 action lists the land types it can go on. The tables below cover actions whose GOV.UK page lists grassland or moorland as eligible. Rates are yearly, from Annex A of the SFI26 scheme rules (opens in a new tab). The details come from each action's page in the SFI26 actions (print version) (opens in a new tab).

The scheme rules define the grassland types. Temporary grassland is usually part of an arable rotation and has been grass for less than 5 years in a row. Permanent grassland has grown grass for 5 years or more outside an arable rotation. It is split into improved, semi-improved, unimproved and species-rich types (section 5.1.1 (opens in a new tab)).

Lowland grassland

CIGL1 and CIGL2 are limited-area actions. Together with other limited-area actions, they can cover no more than 25% of your farm's agricultural area (scheme rules, section 4.5 (opens in a new tab)).

Supplements for grassland and grazing

Moorland

UPL5 and UPL6 only go with UPL1, UPL2 or UPL3. You can't have both on the same area (SFI26 actions (opens in a new tab)). Much moorland is common land or shared grazing. You could not apply for SFI26 on common land (scheme rules, sections 3.1 and 5.1.1 (opens in a new tab)).

What does CLIG3 low-input grassland ask you to do?

CLIG3 pays £151 per hectare to keep manure and fertiliser very low. In short, the action page (opens in a new tab) says you must:

• apply no more than 12 tonnes per hectare of cattle farmyard manure, or the same amount of available nutrients as fertiliser or other organic manures;
• graze or cut the grassland. Keep bare ground to a minimum and keep the grass cover whole, with no compaction or poaching;
• not plough, cultivate or re-seed it, carry out drainage works, or apply digestate or other industrial by-products;
• not apply pesticides, except herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken;
• if you take a forage cut, first leave the grass ungrazed and uncut for at least 7 weeks in spring and summer. Leave an uncut margin.

Read the full action page before you rely on this summary. SSSI land (a Site of Special Scientific Interest) needs Natural England's consent before you do the action.

What records does taking stock off in winter need?

WBD6 asks you to take all livestock off the land for at least 5 months in a row in autumn and winter. That is usually between October and March. You must keep a written record of grazing on each field in the action. You must also keep input records. They must show the grassland has had at least 100kg of nitrogen per hectare per year (SFI26 actions (opens in a new tab)).

What evidence should a grassland farm keep?

Every action asks you to keep evidence such as "field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices" and "photographs or other documentation" (SFI26 actions (opens in a new tab)). For grassland, that usually means grazing records by field, manure and fertiliser records, seed invoices for leys and legumes, and dated photos of the grass. Keep it all for at least 7 years after the agreement ends (scheme rules, section 12.4 (opens in a new tab)).