News.

Farm Cornwall is sharing what we know so far about the 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), set to launch in June 2026. Full details, including eligibility and application guidance, will be released in May by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

The updated SFI will be simpler, fairer, and more focused, with an emphasis on actions that support sustainable food production and careful management of land taken out of production. The scheme aims to be accessible to as many farmers as possible, helping improve resources for farm wildlife across England.

There will be two application windows:

• June: Small farms and those without existing environmental land management agreements.
• September: Open to all farmers, including those who didn’t apply in June.

Key points to note:

• The number of farming options will reduce from 102 to around 40.
• The definition of a small farm has not yet been confirmed.
• Some options are likely to have limits, and there may be an overall payment limit per farm.

We will share new information as soon as it becomes available, so you can stay informed and plan ahead.