Annex B: Indicative list of Sustainable Farming Incentive actions available in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
Published 21 May 2024
Applies to England
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Annex B: Indicative list of Sustainable Farming Incentive actions available in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
Table 1 sets out an indicative list of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions that may be available to apply for in CS Higher Tier. We will confirm the list of actions this summer.
These actions are available where:
- CS Higher Tier actions need to be done in combination with SFI actions to deliver the intended outcomes, and in some cases may need to be tailored to the specific site
- they are supplements that support the delivery of other actions
Table 1: Indicative list of SFI actions available in CS Higher Tier
| Action | Annual payment |
|---|---|
| Manage hedgerows | £13 per 100 metres for one side |
| Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on arable land | £681 per hectare |
| Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on improved grassland | £311 per hectare |
| Pollen and nectar flower mix | £739 per hectare |
| Bumblebird mix | £747 per hectare |
| Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land | £853 per hectare |
| Supplementary winter bird food | £732 per tonne (maximum 1 tonne for every 2 hectares of CAHL2) |
| Nesting plots for lapwing | £765 per hectare |
| Basic overwinter stubble | £58 per hectare |
| Enhanced overwinter stubble | £589 per hectare |
| Whole crop spring cereals and overwinter stubble | £596 per hectare |
| Unharvested cereal headland | £1,072 per hectare |
| Low input harvested cereal crop | £354 per hectare |
| Cultivated areas for arable plants | £660 per hectare |
| Manage woodland edges on arable land | £428 per hectare |
| Manage rough grazing for birds | £121 per hectare |
| Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland (endorsed) | £646 per hectare |
| Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs | £151 per hectare |
| Supplement: Haymaking | £157 per hectare |
| Supplement: Haymaking (late cut) | £187 per hectare |
| Supplement: Lenient grazing | £28 per hectare |
| Supplement: Cattle grazing (non-moorland) | £59 per hectare |
| Create scrub and open habitat mosaics | £588 per hectare |
| Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics | £350 per hectare |
| Control scrub on historic and archaeological features | £215 per hectare |
| Manage historic and archaeological features on grassland | £55 per hectare |
| Maintain designed or engineered waterbodies | £2,512 per hectare |
| Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips | £798 per hectare |
| Shepherding livestock on moorland (no required stock removal period) | £33 per hectare |
| Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 4 months) | £43 per hectare |
| Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 6 months) | £45 per hectare |
| Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 8 months) | £48 per hectare |
| Supplement: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (minimum 30% GLU) | £7 per hectare |
| Supplement: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (minimum 70% GLU) | £18 per hectare |
| Supplement: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (100% GLU) | £23 per hectare |
| Moderate livestock grazing on moorland | £20 per hectare |
| Low livestock grazing on moorland | £53 per hectare |
| Limited livestock grazing on moorland | £66 per hectare |
| Supplementary winter bird food (organic land) | £935 per tonne (maximum 1 tonne for every 2 hectares) |
| Supplement: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats (50-80%) | £92 per hectare |
| Supplement: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats (more than 80%) | £146 per hectare |
| Supplement: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats (50-80%) | £7 per hectare |
| Supplement: Keep native breeds on extensively management habitats (more than 80%) | £11 per hectare |
| Herbal leys | £382 per hectare |
| Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input | £489 per hectare |
| Manage intensive grassland with low fertiliser input | £311 per hectare |
| Manage grassland to reduce nutrient levels in groundwater | £396 per hectare |
| Supplement: Nil fertiliser | £156 per hectare |