Guides · September 2026

Getting ready for SFI 2026 Window 2

SFI 2026's second application window is expected to open on 22 September 2026 — DEFRA's announced date. Unlike Window 1 (which closed 28 August), it's open to all farms that meet the entry rule. If you missed June, you haven't missed out: this is the general window, with a £230 million budget, and there's still time to get ready properly.

Who can apply

You need at least 3ha of agricultural land linked to your SBI. That's the only entry rule for Window 2 — the Window 1 restrictions (small farms of 50ha or less, or farms with no existing ELM revenue agreement) don't apply here. There's no minimum on the area you actually enter into your application.

Worth having ready before it opens

1. Your Rural Payments sign-in works. Applications go through the official Rural Payments service under your SBI. If you haven't signed in for a while, checking now beats finding a locked account in September.
2. Your land details are up to date. The application draws on the parcels registered against your SBI. If field boundaries or land use have changed, getting the record right first avoids re-work later.
3. You know your agricultural land area. Arable, permanent grassland and permanent crops count towards the 3ha entry rule.
4. A list of any existing agreements. Land already paid under another ELM agreement (SFI 2023/2024, Countryside Stewardship) generally can't be paid twice for the same thing — knowing what's already committed tells you which land is free to enter.
5. A shortlist of actions that fit your land. There are 71 SFI 2026 actions; most farms will only ever use a handful. The action library shows what each one pays, where it can go, and what you'd be agreeing to do.
6. A rough idea of the records you'd keep. Every action has evidence expectations — photos, field records, sometimes receipts. Thinking about what's realistic for you day-to-day is part of choosing well, not something to leave until an inspector asks.

No need to rush the decision

An SFI agreement runs for years, so an application that fits your farming beats one that's merely fast. Checking the same-area rules before you commit — which actions can share land and which can't — is the single best way to avoid the mistakes that surface at inspection.

Always check GOV.UK before you plan around the date — this page is not the official source, and 22 September is DEFRA's expected date, not a promise. FieldBook never submits for you: you apply through the official Rural Payments service.