Organic management and conversion funding in England

The SFI scheme forms part of the wider Environmental Land Management (ELM) programme. Under SFI, organic farmers can receive payments for carrying out specific actions that improve soil health, water quality and biodiversity. Funding is available for both conversion to organic farming and the maintenance of existing organic systems.

The scheme is designed to be flexible, allowing farmers to select actions that align with their current practices. Support for organic conversion continues through SFI, and any land manager capable of delivering the required actions is eligible to apply.

SFI 2026 scheme

The new SFI26 introduces several key changes:

• the number of available actions has been reduced to 71, compared to 103 under SFI24

• a minimum eligible land area of 3 hectares now applies

• an annual agreement value cap of £100,000 has been introduced

• each farm is limited to one SFI26 agreement

• there are restrictions on adding further land to rotational SFI actions after the first year

• most actions have a standard duration of 3 years, with some exceptions for organic conversion actions

Key dates

For more details about eligibility and to understand which window is best for you, please visit the most recent SFI26 information on the Defra website.

Both windows may close earlier if the available budget is fully allocated. Defra will provide updates on the allocation of budgets for both Window 1 and Window 2 via the Defra farming blog.

Please note that if you already have some land under Countryside Stewardship agreements, you need to wait for it to end before applying for SFI26 for the same land.

If you have any concerns about SFI26 and need support, please contact our friendly the farming and growing certification team to discuss potential solutions: farming.growing@soilassociation.org.

Financial benefits of organic farming

Going organic allows you to tap into a buoyant market as consumer interest continues to rise, motivated by health, reduced pesticide use and animal welfare.

The UK organic market has doubled over the past decade, and is now worth £3.9 billion. In 2025, organic food and drink unit growth outperformed non-organic by 400% in supermarkets, with more retailers giving organic more space and strategic attention. Organic land in the UK currently represents around 3% of farmland, highlighting a strong opportunity for farmers to meet growing demand for UK produced organic food.

Policy momentum is accelerating too, with Defra announcing in June 2026 that they plan to launch an English Organic Action Plan to support scaling up organic production and strengthening supply chains to meet increasing consumer demand.

Businesses, governments and consumers increasingly recognise organic as a key part of the solution to the climate, nature and health challenges – helping to build a more sustainable food system that works for people, nature and the climate.

Rates on offer for organic conversion and maintenance

Organic conversion actions are available to for land that’s registered as ‘in conversion’ with a Defra approved organic control body (OCB) like Soil Association Certification.

Organic land management options are for land that has already gone through the conversion period, has official full organic status, and is registered with a recognised certification body such as Soil Association Certification.

You can enter organic land into other SFI actions which are not organic-specific if it’s an eligible land type.

For more information on the SFI actions and scheme requirements, visit Defra's tool to find funding for land or farms.

How we can support your farm

With over 50 years’ certification experience, Soil Association Certification brings unrivalled expertise, trusted standards, a friendly and supportive team of organic exerts and the UK’s most recognised organic symbol.

We certify all farm sizes and enterprises, from beef, sheep and dairy and large-scale arable holdings to field-scale horticulture and market gardens. We also provide organic certification for on-farm processing and packing, supporting you to add value to your products and grow your business by selling direct.

Beyond certification, farmers and growers can access to a wider network and practical farming support. As a not-for-profit and owned subsidiary of the Soil Association charity, we reinvest in projects that directly benefit farmers. Together we champion organic farming at the highest levels, protecting standards, influencing policy and strengthening markets, ensuring your transition is backed by long-term opportunities.

Through the wider Soil Association group, farmers can access support to adopt nature-friendly practices that improve soil health, enhance biodiversity and build a more resilient, efficient farm business – through resources, webinars, regional farm walks, farmer networks and the Soil Association’s farming and land use team.

How to apply

1. submit your application through the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) website during either Window 1 or Window 2, depending on your eligibility

2. an agreement is usually sent back to the farmer to be signed within 2 weeks, and the farmer has 6 weeks to sign the agreement

3. once the signed agreement is returned to the RPA, the agreement will begin on the first day of the following month, and the first payment will be received 3 months later

4. if you apply for organic conversion actions, you must also apply separately with a recognised Organic Certification Body like Soil Association Certification before your agreement starts, and a conversion plan will be discussed and agreed as part of the organic certification application process

5. you must then comply with your SFI26 agreement from its start date until its end date