The plans for the roll-out of the new Sustainable Farming Incentive actions for 2023 have been announced by Defra this week.
With 23 actions for farmers and land managers to apply for from August, the scheme will now reward those businesses looking to protect and enhance their farmed environment, whilst supporting sustainable food production and farm productivity.
BASIS qualified advisers are key to the delivery of two of the new actions:
- Assess integrated pest management and produce a plan (IPM1 - £989/assessment and plan)
This action will need to be carried out in combination with a member of the BASIS Professional Register who has the relevant Certificate in Crop Protection IPM, or for your own business if you are a Professional Register member. This new action is looking to understand the current approach to pest, weed and disease management and to create an integrated pest management plan of measures and practices that could be further implemented on-farm.
- Assess nutrient management and produce a review report (NUM1 - £589/assessment and review report)
This action will need to be carried out with a FACTS qualified adviser or yourself if you are a FACTS qualified adviser. This action seeks to assess current nutrient use and need for your farm business and identify opportunities to increase nutrient use efficiency and use of organic materials.
BASIS qualified advisers and Environmental Adviser Register members will also provide vital support to the formation of SFI applications, the delivery of schemes and in achieving the best outcomes, both for the farm business and the environment.
The full set of actions and details can be found in the SFI 2023 Handbook. The actions include:
- Soil health
- Hedgerow management
- Integrated pest management
- Nutrient management
- Farmland wildlife (Arable and horticultural land & Improved grassland)
- Buffer strips
- Low input grassland
- Moorland assessment
Actions will be able to be chosen from across the list and can be combined with Countryside Stewardship and wider agreements. Payments will be made on a quarterly basis and an annual management payment will be available for up to 50ha of land entered into the scheme (£20/ha up to a total of £1000).
Find an Adviser tool
For those that would like to work with an adviser to support in choosing and applying the best SFI actions for their farm business, the BASIS ‘Find an Adviser’ tool provides trusted, professionals on the Environmental Advisers Register with accredited quality knowledge and expertise in your area.
BASIS Training Courses
For those interested to learn more about the establishment, management and siting of farmland wildlife measures, BASIS are pleased to offer learning through the Principles of Sustainable Land Management course or the Certificate in Sustainable Land Management.
For advisers wishing to become qualified to provide advice on integrated pest management, please look at our Certificate in Crop Protection IPM courses and on nutrient management our FACTS courses.
Courses are available to book through our BASIS Approved Trainer network by searching for a course local to you here or via online e-learning through our BASIS Classroom.
For further details on the Sustainable Farming Incentive, please see the guidance on GOV.UK found here.
With 23 actions for farmers and land managers to apply for from August, the scheme will now reward those businesses looking to protect and enhance their farmed environment, whilst supporting sustainable food production and farm productivity.
BASIS qualified advisers are key to the delivery of two of the new actions:
- Assess integrated pest management and produce a plan (IPM1 - £989/assessment and plan)
This action will need to be carried out in combination with a member of the BASIS Professional Register who has the relevant Certificate in Crop Protection IPM, or for your own business if you are a Professional Register member. This new action is looking to understand the current approach to pest, weed and disease management and to create an integrated pest management plan of measures and practices that could be further implemented on-farm.
- Assess nutrient management and produce a review report (NUM1 - £589/assessment and review report)
This action will need to be carried out with a FACTS qualified adviser or yourself if you are a FACTS qualified adviser. This action seeks to assess current nutrient use and need for your farm business and identify opportunities to increase nutrient use efficiency and use of organic materials.
BASIS qualified advisers and Environmental Adviser Register members will also provide vital support to the formation of SFI applications, the delivery of schemes and in achieving the best outcomes, both for the farm business and the environment.
The full set of actions and details can be found in the SFI 2023 Handbook. The actions include:
- Soil health
- Hedgerow management
- Integrated pest management
- Nutrient management
- Farmland wildlife (Arable and horticultural land & Improved grassland)
- Buffer strips
- Low input grassland
- Moorland assessment
Actions will be able to be chosen from across the list and can be combined with Countryside Stewardship and wider agreements. Payments will be made on a quarterly basis and an annual management payment will be available for up to 50ha of land entered into the scheme (£20/ha up to a total of £1000).
Find an Adviser tool
For those that would like to work with an adviser to support in choosing and applying the best SFI actions for their farm business, the BASIS ‘Find an Adviser’ tool provides trusted, professionals on the Environmental Advisers Register with accredited quality knowledge and expertise in your area.
BASIS Training Courses
For those interested to learn more about the establishment, management and siting of farmland wildlife measures, BASIS are pleased to offer learning through the Principles of Sustainable Land Management course or the Certificate in Sustainable Land Management.
For advisers wishing to become qualified to provide advice on integrated pest management, please look at our Certificate in Crop Protection IPM courses and on nutrient management our FACTS courses.
Courses are available to book through our BASIS Approved Trainer network by searching for a course local to you here or via online e-learning through our BASIS Classroom.
For further details on the Sustainable Farming Incentive, please see the guidance on GOV.UK found here.
