SFI 2026 organic funding

What is the SFI?

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is part of the UK government's Environmental Land Management (ELM) programme. Under the SFI, organic farmers can receive payments for carrying out specific actions. These actions could improve soil health, water quality and biodiversity, for example. Farmers can apply for funding for organic conversion and maintenance.

The scheme is flexible and allows farmers to choose options that align with their current practices. Any land manager capable of delivering the required actions is eligible to apply.

What are the scheme updates for 2026?

The new SFI26 introduces several key changes:

• the number of available actions has been reduced to 71, compared with 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

SFI 2026 organic payment rates

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

Organic land management actions are for land that:

• has already gone through the conversion period

• has official full organic status

• 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.

Find funding for land or farms

For more information on the SFI actions and scheme requirements, use the Defra search tool.

When to apply

From June 2026

Window 1 opened on 30 June and remains open for approximately 2 months. This window is only open to farms with less than 50 hectares without an active ELM agreement.

From September 2026 

Window 2 opens in September and remains open until March 2027. It is open to applicants who manage at least 3 hectares of agricultural land and are registered with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). It is ideal for farmers whose existing agreements (like SFI23 or the Countryside Stewardship Scheme) expire soon.

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.

Further eligibility guidance

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

How to apply

1. submit your application through the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) website

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

4. the first payment will be received 3 months later

5. 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

6. a conversion plan will be discussed and agreed as part of the organic certification application process

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

How we can help

We certify farms of all sizes and types, from beef, sheep, 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 grow your business by selling direct. 

Our clients can access a wide network of industry professionals and practical farming support. As a not-for-profit owned by 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

• resources, webinars, regional farm walks, farmer networks, and the Soil Association’s farming and land use team

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. In June 2026, Defra announced its plan to launch an English Organic Action Plan. This would support scaling up organic production and strengthen 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. Organic has a key part in helping to build a more sustainable food system that works for people, nature and the climate.