PRF4 · SFI 2026 · Precision farming
Mechanical robotic weeding
£150 per hectare, per year
Runs for 3 years.
Rotational or static — your choice whether it moves or stays in the same place.
Where it applies
Arable
Eligibility conditions
- Below the moorland line
- Arable land excluding temporary grassland
- Cash crops only — not usually possible on combinable crops
What you'll do
Control weeds with camera- or GPS-guided robotic/mechanical hoes that physically remove them, using only a pre-emergence residual herbicide and no other herbicide during crop growth.
Evidence to keep
- Machine job-recording data from the robotic/mechanical weeder
- Field operation records at parcel level, with dates
- Contractor invoices, if done for you
Combining with other actions
Actions that can be paid on the same area:
- SFI 2026: AGF1, AGF2, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, AHW10, CAHL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CSAM2, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1, SOH3
- SFI 2024: AGF1, AGF2, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, AHW9, AHW10, CAHL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, CSAM2, OFA1, OFA6, OFC3, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4
- SFI 2023: AHL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1, SAM2
- CS Higher Tier: CAB2, CAB5, CAB6, CAB7, CAB10, CAB14, CAB17, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3
- Countryside Stewardship: AB2, AB5, AB6, AB7, AB10, AB14, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR3, OT3, SW5, SW6, SW12
Checked against GOV.UK Find Funding for Land or Farms on 10 July 2026. Read the official PRF4 guidance on GOV.UK.
All actions