With the first of two Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) application windows due to open in June, further announcements have suggested this means 30th June, meaning the application window opens on the last possible day the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) had previously suggested it might be available. 

Whether this will overlap with the Capital Grant window opening in July, or whether this too will be pushed back, means the likely reprieve is there is a little more time to prepare. 

Clarity of applications will be important as the RPA are likely to receive high volumes of applications for both schemes due to later and narrower application windows. 

Often, simplicity is key, with options selected to suit both the natural environment, landscape and client’s farming system. 

Herbal leys and low input pasture payments remain popular and relatively simple SFI options to deliver, whilst fencing, boundary work, water infrastructure and tree surgery are likely to be once again popular Capital Grant options, with £60,000 worth of application funding across two pillars (£25,000 for water items and £35,000 for boundary items). 

Seek advice now in order to ensure your application can be included in this years’ application windows. Our teams are primed to handle high application volumes, with many years of both SFI and Capital Grant experience. Contact us today.