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.

WhenApplying you will be able to apply for an agreement

WeSFI expect to open applications toopened allfor BPS eligible farmers from late30 June 2022.

Applications Beforewill thatremain happens,open, we’ve invited some farmers who previously expressed an interest in SFI to apply early so weyou can getapply feedbackat anda maketime improvements.

Therethat isworks nobest applicationfor window.you. If it’s necessary to close applications, this date will be publicised, including on GOV.UK, giving you 6 weeks’ notice.

How

Our new SFI application service is designed to applybe quicker and more straightforward for anfarmers. agreement

You’llWe’re applyrolling onlineout the new functionality during July in a controlled way, so we can make sure we’re able to offer everyone the right level of service and support during this initial phase. This means that while all BPS eligible farmers can apply for SFI, induring the first few weeks of rollout there will be different ways into the application service.

BPS eligible farmers who do not have an existing agri-environment agreement can sign into the Rural Payments service. now to apply for SFI on eligible land outside a common.

BeforeBPS applicationseligible open,farmers we’llwho publishhave informationan existing agri-environment agreement, or who want to apply separately on GOV.UKcommon land, need to helpcontact youus apply.to Thisregister willtheir includeinterest. detailsWe’ll ofthen helparrange for farmersthem withto limitedstart digitaltheir access.

Whatapplication. In this case, you can doeither nowemail tous getat readyruralpayments@defra.gov.uk to(using apply

Before‘Apply early for SFI’ applicationsas open,the thereemail aresubject someand thingsincluding youyour canSBI) door call us on 03000 200 301 (Monday to getFriday ready8.30am to apply.5pm, Doingexcept thesebank holidays).

What to do before you apply

There are some things nowyou willcan makedo itbefore easieryou apply for youSFI, to apply.make your application easier.

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.

You should also check your permissions. You can do this from your ‘Business overview’ screen in ‘Give people permission to act for this business’.

To submitcreate an SFI application, you’ll need one of the following permissions:

• Business Details ‘Full’
• Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) ‘Submit’
• BPS permission.‘Amend’

To submit an SFI application, you’ll need either:

• Business Details ‘Full’ permission
• BPS ‘Submit’ permission

If you don’t have thisthe relevant permission, someone with ‘Business Details: Full’ permission for the business can giveupdate youthe BPSpermissions. ‘Submit’ permission.

You can give someone else BPSthe ‘Submit’relevant 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 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.