As we go into 2026, upcoming grant opportunities are still only just emerging from the crystal ball. We now have surety that some form of Sustainable Farming Incentive will be open for applications again this year, with a window in June for new participants and another in September for those who already have an agreement, which is very welcome news for all those who have found SFI to be such a useful scheme. 

However, we are still waiting to hear news of another round of Capital Grants. Last year saw a very short application window, with a first come first served approach seeing applications closing in just 30 days, as soon as the £150 million of funding was allocated. 

As we wait for news for this year, one thing is clear - being prepared for the window to open is essential. This is particularly important if you are looking for items like roofing and concreting that need approval from the Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer. We are still seeing long wait times for visits so it is vital to get your requests submitted now so they can be assessed before any application window opens. Last year’s experience proved that unless you already had your approval in place, there was no chance of getting this arranged alongside the application process. 

A clear and detailed application to the Catchment Sensitive Farming team, including photographs and maps, greatly enhances your chances of a straightforward inspection and approval.

Contact your local Kivells team for specialist advice.