Applications Open Today for SFI26 Window 1

The first application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) opens today (30 June 2026), with £60 million available from the scheme’s total £240 million budget.

Window 1 is open to farms with between three and 50 hectares of agricultural land, as well as farms larger than three hectares that do not currently hold an Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement. Farmers only need to meet one of these criteria to apply.

SFI26 scheme rules and guidance are available on GOV.UK.

The Government will provide updates when around 25%, 50% and 75% of the Window 1 budget has been allocated, but eligible farmers are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Those who do not apply during Window 1 will have a further opportunity to apply in Window 2 later this year.

From Window 2 in September 2026, new functionality will be introduced to the SFI26 application service. This will allow farmers with Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 (SFI23), Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier (CSMT), Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) or Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements due to expire by the end of February 2027 to apply for land currently covered by those agreements before they come to an end.