Rural News: Sustainable Farming Incentive Updates 2023

The RPA has released an update regarding the offer to be available under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for applications in 2023.  The application window for the new 2023 standards will open in a controlled rollout from August 2023, offering farmers payments under three-year agreements for carrying out up to 23 actions.19 of these actions are new, 4 have been carried over from the rollout of actions last year.

We understand that the application window will be rolling, therefore, allowing farmers to apply at the time that suits them best, with agreements commencing at the start of the month following acceptance of an agreement offer. Payments will be made quarterly in arrears, with the first payment being made four months after the start of the agreement.

Farmers who currently have land in Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier or Higher Tier agreements, Capital Grants or Environmental Stewardship ELS or HLS agreements will also be eligible for SFI however care must be taken when applying to ensure that the application does not contain any double funding. We are also expecting information in due course from the RPA to explain how it might be possible to terminate an existing Countryside Stewardship agreement early in order to enter an SFI agreement.

Any farmers with existing SFI agreements will receive correspondence directly from the RPA to confirm the process for termination of their existing agreement and renewal under the new 2023 standards.

You can download our latest SFI publication by clicking here. If you have any queries regarding this or any other funding options please do not hesitate to get in touch with your local youngsRPS office.