How a SFI standards agreement works

This information explains what you’re agreeing to when you enter into a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) standards agreement, when it will start and what changes you can request once your agreement starts.

Entering into an agreement

When you submit your SFI application, the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) will process it. You will be notified when your SFI standards agreement offer is available in the Rural Payments service to check.

To enter into the agreement, you must accept it and sign it digitally. Your SFI standards agreement cannot start until you do this.

Your SFI standards agreement comprises of:

• the agreement document
• the scheme terms and conditions, which will be published on GOV.UK before applications open

By accepting your SFI standards agreement, you are agreeing to follow the scheme terms and conditions. You should read them carefully before you accept it.

When your agreement will start

SFI standards agreements will not all start on a single date. The start date for your agreement will depend on when you submit your SFI application, how long it takes to process and how quickly you accept your agreement offer.

Your SFI standards agreement will last for 3 years from its start date, as shown on your agreement document.

If you apply when applications open in June 2022, it’s likely your agreement will start in autumn 2022.

Submit an annual declaration to confirm progress of your agreement

You must submit an annual declaration for each year of your SFI standards agreement. This is to confirm your progress with completing the actions in your agreement.

You’ll complete and submit your annual declaration online. The RPA will remind you when it’s due and provide more information to help you complete it.

Before applications open, more information about the annual declaration will be published on GOV.UK. ##Requesting changes to your agreement

You’ll be able to request certain changes to your SFI standards agreement.

Upgrading your agreement

You’ll be able to upgrade your SFI standards agreement annually. This will allow you to:

• add more standards as they become available
• add more land, including land coming out of a Countryside Stewardship agreement when it ends
• increase levels within standards already in your SFI standards agreement

More information about upgrading your SFI standards agreement will be published on GOV.UK.

Reducing the levels in the standards or land area in your SFI standards agreement or ending it early

You are usually expected to deliver your SFI standards agreement for its 3-year duration without:

• reducing the level that you’ve selected for a standard
• removing land from the agreement
• ending the agreement early

In certain situations, it may be possible for you to reduce the levels in the standards or area of land in your agreement or end it before its 3-year duration is completed. For example, the RPA may agree to do this if you have a change of circumstances that makes it impossible for you to deliver all or part of the agreement.

If the levels of the standards or area of land in your SFI standards agreement are reduced, or it’s ended early, you may have to repay some, or all, of the money already paid to you.

Your SFI standards agreement payments are based on you completing the actions in the standards for a full agreement year, including submitting your annual declaration. If you have done this, you will not have to repay the money already paid to you. If you have not, you may need to make a repayment for the affected agreement year.

Transferring an SFI standards agreement to another person

It will not usually be possible for you to transfer an SFI standards agreement to another person.

If land in your SFI standards agreement is transferred to another person, for example, it is sold or a tenancy ends and there is a new tenant, you must inform the RPA as soon as possible. The RPA will advise you what needs to happen.