Sustainable farming incentive - handbook for 2023 has been published

Janet Hughes Defra · Jun 21, 2023

Afternoon all,

Today we've published a handbook containing all the detailed information about the sustainable farming incentive offer for this year.

The handbook is here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfi-handbook-for-the-sfi-2023-offer

An overview blogpost is here: https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/21/sfi-more-ways-to-enhance-your-income-productivity-and-the-environment/

The handbook sets out all the detailed actions, rules and requirements of the scheme, in a single handbook that you can download and print (because this is what many of you have asked us to do, rather than spreading the information across multiple pages on GOV.UK).

We have made some changes to the scheme in response to feedback from you and other farmers and through our pilot and early rollout of the scheme. In particular, we have made a much broader range of options available, made the scheme more flexible so you can pick the individual actions you want to do rather than having to do them in set combinations or percentages of land entered into the scheme.

Finally, I know I have not been present on the forum in the consistent, ongoing way many of you would like. I understand why that has been frustrating and annoying, and I am really sorry about that. I have found that am just not able to personally engage on every thread on an ongoing basis, I'm afraid. However I do really want to find a way of addressing your questions and hearing your feedback all the time, not just when we publish new information, so I am working with @Clive to put in place a better, ongoing, sustainable way of managing this so that you can ask questions of me and my team and give us feedback when they arise. We will let you know where we get to with that as soon as possible.

For this particular thread, I am planning to be online at least daily, for the next week, to answer your questions about the information we've published today. I have posted this as a question with voting, and if you could upvote questions that you particularly want me to address it would be helpful if you could vote for them so that I can prioritise my time and attention, and I will then do my best to work through as many of them as I possibly can. I hope this is helpful and look forward to your questions.

If you have questions about your specific farm situation, the best thing to do is contact the RPA contact centre and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Thank you.

Sid · Aug 3, 2023

J 1177 said:
The way i read it its to be a specific calf shed not a multi purpose kit job

I was using that as an example of a small sheds price before and intervals such as walls,floors, ventilation etc.

andybk · Aug 3, 2023

Sid said:
You can under SFI SAM 3?

SFI actions for soils

Find out about the SFI actions for soils, what land is eligible for each action, and what you need to do to get paid.

www.gov.uk

for arable land and IMPROVED perm pasture, not land we have been careful not to use sprays and fert no recognition for having done the right thing for years

Henarar · Aug 3, 2023

Sid said:
You can under SFI SAM 3?

SFI actions for soils

Find out about the SFI actions for soils, what land is eligible for each action, and what you need to do to get paid.

www.gov.uk

Best way to get that to grow in PP ?

Henarar · Aug 3, 2023

andybk said:
for arable land and IMPROVED perm pasture, not land we have been careful not to use sprays and fert no recognition for having done the right thing for years

Paid for doing the sustainable thing for years, like that will happen, you have to be bad then they will pay you to be good-er

Aspiring Peasants · Aug 3, 2023

Sid said:
You can under SFI SAM 3?

SFI actions for soils

Find out about the SFI actions for soils, what land is eligible for each action, and what you need to do to get paid.

www.gov.uk

What is acceptable as a herbal ley? The definition is so vague

What to do

You must establish and maintain herbal leys with a mixture of grasses, legumes, and herbs on the land entered into this action.

So if I direct drill some clover and herbs into an existing grass ley, and not much grows but I can prove I’ve done it, is that acceptable?

Henarar · Aug 3, 2023

Aspiring Peasants said:
What is acceptable as a herbal ley? The definition is so vague

What to do
You must establish and maintain herbal leys with a mixture of grasses, legumes, and herbs on the land entered into this action.

So if I direct drill some clover and herbs into an existing grass ley, and not much grows but I can prove I’ve done it, is that acceptable?

this is the thing, plenty of clover here anyway may just need some herbs but what and how many ?

J 1177 · Aug 3, 2023

Sid said:
I was using that as an example of a small sheds price before and intervals such as walls,floors, ventilation etc.

Ah ok fair enough

Sid · Aug 3, 2023

Henarar said:
Best way to get that to grow in PP ?

Depends on what "that " you want to plant.

Wood field · Aug 3, 2023

Aspiring Peasants said:
What is acceptable as a herbal ley? The definition is so vague

What to do
You must establish and maintain herbal leys with a mixture of grasses, legumes, and herbs on the land entered into this action.

So if I direct drill some clover and herbs into an existing grass ley, and not much grows but I can prove I’ve done it, is that acceptable?

Adding to that , what grazing restrictions are there.
Small farms need every bit , we can’t set land aside or have no hard feeding on parcels of land
As @andybk says we’ve kept old meadows for years , species rich and no chemicals.
As an aside what do I need to do to get my lambs away at £180
Ours go as stores at an average of £67 ( last three years average)
Its to easy to say “ round here we do …,,”
Every farm is different and I’ve said before, just a 10 minute drive can make a huge difference in geography and ground conditions

Sid · Aug 3, 2023

Aspiring Peasants said:
What is acceptable as a herbal ley? The definition is so vague

What to do
You must establish and maintain herbal leys with a mixture of grasses, legumes, and herbs on the land entered into this action.

So if I direct drill some clover and herbs into an existing grass ley, and not much grows but I can prove I’ve done it, is that acceptable?

That's what the text says in the guidance.

Henarar said:
this is the thing, plenty of clover here anyway may just need some herbs but what and how many ?

SFI actions for nutrient management

Find out about the SFI actions for nutrient management, what land is eligible for each action, and what you need to do to get paid.

www.gov.uk

Go for that instead then.

You don't have to do herbal leys if they don't suit, or you can be a subsidy junkie/chaser if you wish

gone up the hill · Aug 3, 2023

Sid said:
If your starting from scratch the easy to get to 15k min.

View attachment 1128103

Well as i read it the min you can claim is 15k which means the farmer has to find another 20k or so to match it as the 15k can only be 40% of the build costs and the farmer has to match it at 60%

So they give you 15k but you have to find another 20k on top of that!

Stw88 · Aug 3, 2023

gone up the hill said:
Well as i read it the min you can claim is 15k which means the farmer has to find another 20k or so to match it as the 15k can only be 40% of the build costs and the farmer has to match it at 60%

So they give you 15k but you have to find another 20k on top of that!

Havnt read up on it as dont need to build any more sheds at the moment, especially the price they are. But my guess is they will have to have fancy ventilation systems and vents that open and shut to keep temperatures right. This will probably add up to more than the shed costs! Which then makes it a no go for your average farmer. Just like the rest of the grants available. Everything has to be way over the top which makes them unviable for your average farmer. Cheaper just buying the standard stuff yourself with no hassle of paperwork!

Vader · Aug 3, 2023

Slight related..a group of farmers I am part of have made our own conservation plans and just won the south Yorkshire region Tye trophy for conservation for our work.
I won the award on my own in the past on other land we farm.
But apparently my suggestions/ ideas not good enough for defra when I said how sfi dont work.
Seems you need to have a degree or work at the RSPB, NT, etc to know what your talking about.
Actually doing it, dont count.

willyorkshire · Aug 3, 2023

gone up the hill said:
You live in cloud cuckoo land!

lambs are not averaging £120 head now, you will be lucky to average £110 head!

Store lambs are averaging about £70 head..

Without a shadow of a doubt its much easier for arable farms to take advantage of SFI then livestock farms.

For example an arable farm can easily just put corners of fields into bird seed mixes but for a livestock farm this would mean the costs/ hassle of fencing off these corners and then no doubt having to apply for new field numbers parcels for each side of the fence!

Small unploughable fields in your area are worth more for the simple reason that either lifestyle/ off grid type types or people want to buy them to plant trees and as they are small parcels they can afford to purchase them unlike say 30 acre arab

Vader said:
Slight related..a group of farmers I am part of have made our own conservation plans and just won the south Yorkshire region the trophy for conservation for our work.
I won the award on my own in the past on other land we farm.
But apparently my suggestions/ ideas not good enough for defra when I said how sfi dont work.
Seems you need to have a degree or work at the RSPB, NT, etc to know what your talking about.
Actually doing it, dont count.

Yep. Ignorant farmers been doing it all wrong. Now learn from the experts.

Sid · Aug 3, 2023

gone up the hill said:
Well as i read it the min you can claim is 15k which means the farmer has to find another 20k or so to match it as the 15k can only be 40% of the build costs and the farmer has to match it at 60%

So they give you 15k but you have to find another 20k on top of that!

The minimum grant you can apply for is £15,000 (40% of £37,500).

Half the cost of the complete build is usually the shed.

J 1177 · Aug 3, 2023

Sid said:
The minimum grant you can apply for is £15,000 (40% of £37,500).

Half the cost of the complete build is usually the shed.

Yes but there are stipulations of how they need to be finished off and furnished which adds a big layer of cost. Not to mention the sceme is also a competitive one so your not guarunteed to get the grant.

Devil's advocate · Aug 3, 2023

Wood field said:
Adding to that , what grazing restrictions are there.
Small farms need every bit , we can’t set land aside or have no hard feeding on parcels of land
As @andybk says we’ve kept old meadows for years , species rich and no chemicals.
As an aside what do I need to do to get my lambs away at £180
Ours go as stores at an average of £67 ( last three years average)
Its to easy to say “ round here we do …,,”
Every farm is different and I’ve said before, just a 10 minute drive can make a huge difference in geography and ground conditions

Same local market as me Holmfirth.

Tup 3/4 Texel ewes with Beltex tup to lamb early March. Put on decent permanment pasture & feed creep, control parasites. Sell lambs last week at Holmfirth simples.

Now someone tell me why decent insecticides are not allowed on sugar beet, swedes & oilseed rape?

Edit sorry £210 for fancy lambs so more per lamb than a ton of wheat. You can produce 8 lambs or 3 tons of wheat per acre.

Sale Report - Tuesday 25th July 2023 - Summer Prime Lamb Show & Sale

Forward 390 Head of Stock comprising of 20 Cattle including 15 Stores, 3 Prime Cattle, 2 OTM and 370 Sheep comprising of 304 Prime Lambs, 59 Ewes, 1 Tup & 2 Goats.PRIME LAMBS SUMMER SHOW AND SALE.Kindly Judged by James Routley of Yorkshire Halal Meat Suppliers Ltd.An excellent selection of lambs...

www.holmfirthmart.co.uk

Wood field · Aug 3, 2023

Devil's advocate said:
Same local market as me Holmfirth.

Tup 3/4 Texel ewes with Beltex tup to lamb early March. Put on decent permanment pasture & feed creep, control parasites. Sell lambs last week at Holmfirth simples.

Now someone tell me why decent insecticides are not allowed on sugar beet, swedes & oilseed rape?

Those sheep would melt up here , as I say geography, as for arable I don’t know I’ve never done it, we have enough trouble growing grass!

Devil's advocate · Aug 3, 2023

Wood field said:
Those sheep would melt up here , as I say geography, as for arable I don’t know I’ve never done it, we have enough trouble growing grass!

Its not fair is it?

Hill farms have all the advantages just look at the money to be made out of tourism for instance, try setting up a caravan site looking at a disused factory or electricity sub station.

Wood field · Aug 3, 2023

Devil's advocate said:
Its not fair is it?

Hill farms have all the advantages just look at the money to be made out of tourism for instance, try setting up a caravan site looking at a disused factory or electricity sub station.

That’s the thing, we have two choices, make the best of what we have or take the sfi and hope it works for you/me
Well the third option is to say fek it and pack in
I wouldn’t say a little farm on the edge of the moor is exactly a tourist hotspot, but yes certainly some have that as an option, but then I waited a long time to afford this farm so I want to farm it not clean caravan toilets
By the way of an aside and going back to my point on geography, I used to cross over the moor from Oldham to holmfirth and then over to Denby Dale to a certain Dairy , the difference in the land is incredible, I suppose that’s what makes farming such a challenge and one would hope , these scheme makers would see we can’t have a one thing fits all system.

Sustainable farming incentive - handbook for 2023 has been published

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

What to do​

Member

What to do​

Member

Member

Member

What to do​

Member

What to do​

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page

What to do

What to do

What to do

What to do