What to do before you apply for an SFI standards agreement

This information explains when you’ll be able to apply for an SFI standards agreement, how to apply and what you need to do before starting your application.

When you will be able to apply for an agreement

We expect to open applications for SFI standards agreements from June 2022. There is no application window. If it’s necessary to close applications, this date will be publicised, including on GOV.UK, giving you 6 weeks’ notice.

How to apply for an agreement

You’ll apply online for SFI in the Rural Payments service.

Before applications open, we’ll publish information on GOV.UK to help you apply. This will include details of help for farmers with limited digital access.

What you can do now to get ready to apply

Before SFI applications open in June 2022, there are some things you can do to get ready to apply. Doing these things now will make it easier for you to apply.

Check your registered contact details and permissions

You should sign into the Rural Payments service and check your business and personal details are up to date.

To submit an application, you’ll need Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) ‘Submit’ permission. If you don’t have this permission, someone with ‘Business Details: Full’ permission for the business can give you BPS ‘Submit’ permission.

You can give someone else BPS ‘Submit’ permission to apply on your behalf. Read the BPS 2022 how to apply online guidance for information about how to do this.

Register on the Rural Payments service if you’re setting up a single entity for common land

If you are setting up a new single entity on behalf of a group of commoners, you’ll need to register with on the Rural Payments service to obtain a new Single Business Identifier (SBI). Read more information about setting up a single entity.

Check that you and your land are eligible

You should check that:

• you are eligible to apply for SFI
• you will have management control of the land for the 3-year duration of your SFI standards agreement

Read the information about eligibility.

Check your land details

When you apply online for SFI in the Rural Payments service, you’ll see:

• the land parcels currently linked to your SBI
• the ‘available area’ for SFI in those land parcels, based on the land covers currently registered that are eligible for each standard

If these details are not up to date, this will affect which land parcels you can select to include in your SFI application.

Before you apply for SFI, you need to check your digital maps are up to date. To view your digital maps, sign into the Rural Payments service. From your ‘Business overview’ screen select ‘Land’ and ‘View land’.

Read about checking your land details and how land cover affects your SFI application.