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3 yearsÌý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£102 per hectare (ha) per yearÌý

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is that there are legumes growing from spring until early autumn.Ìý

The purpose of this is to:Ìý

• manage nutrient efficiencyÌý

• protect the soil surfaceÌý

• provide root growth thatÌýmaintainsÌýsoil structure, supports soil biology, and minimise nutrient leaching, soilÌýerosionÌýand runoff Ìý

• support an integrated pest management approach ifÌýlocatedÌýclose to cropped areasÌý

Where you can do this actionÌý

You can do this action on agricultural landÌýlocatedÌýbelow the moorland line that’s:Ìý

• an eligible land type (as defined in sectionÌý5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information)Ìý

• registered with an eligible land cover on your digital mapsÌý

• declared with a land useÌýcode which is compatible with the eligible land coverÌý

Eligible landÌý

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01	Ìý
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01	Ìý

Eligibility of protected landÌý

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must: Ìý

• give notice to NaturalÌýEngland to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreementÌý

• have received SSSI consent from Natural England before you do this action (readÌýsection 10.1Ìý‘SSSI consent’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information for more details)Ìý

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the featureÌýis located inÌýa land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel ifÌýit’sÌýeligible.Ìý

Available area you canÌýenter intoÌýthis actionÌý

Total or part of the available area in a land parcel.ÌýIt’sÌýyour responsibility to check that the area you enter is eligible for this action.Ìý

You must do this action on the areaÌýentered intoÌýyour SFI26 agreement. If something happens which means you cannot complete this action on some orÌýall ofÌýthe area, you must tell the RPA in writing as soon as possible.ÌýRead section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply withÌýyourÌýagreement’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this.       Ìý

Rotational or static actionÌý

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:Ìý

• move its location for the second and third years of this action’s durationÌý

• do it at the same location each year of this action’s durationÌý

What to doÌý

You mustÌýestablishÌýand maintain legumes on improved grasslandÌýentered intoÌýthis action.Ìý

You can use one or more type of legume, such as:Ìý

• red cloverÌý

• white cloverÌý

• alsike cloverÌý

• sainfoinÌý

• lucerneÌý

• bird’s foot trefoilÌý

You canÌýestablishÌýthe legumes by:Ìý

• adding them to an existing grass swardÌý

• sowing a mix of grass and legumesÌý

OnceÌýestablished, you mustÌýmaintainÌýthe legumes. To do this, you must manage them in a way that canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim.Ìý

You canÌýmaintainÌýexisting areas of legumes on improved grassland to get paid this action if they:Ìý

• meet this action’s requirementsÌý

• are not already being for under another environmental land management schemeÌýoption, such as CS option GS4 (legume and herb-rich swards)Ìý

When to do itÌý

IfÌýyou’reÌýdoing this action on the same area of land for this action’s 3-year duration, you must:Ìý

• establishÌýthe legumes within 12 months of this action’s start dateÌý
• maintainÌýthe area of legumes in eachÌýsubsequentÌýyear of this action’s durationÌý

IfÌýyou’reÌýrotating this action around your farm, each year of your SFI agreement you must do it forÌýa period of timeÌýthat couldÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim.Ìý

How to do itÌý

It’sÌýup to you how you do this action, as long as you:Ìý

• follow this action’s requirements – these areÌýidentifiedÌýby a ‘must’Ìý

• do the action in a way that couldÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aimÌý

You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, butÌýit’sÌýnot part of this action’s requirements.Ìý

Evidence to keepÌý

You must keep evidence to show whatÌýyou’veÌýdone to complete this action, such as:Ìý

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoicesÌý

• photographs or other documentationÌý

IfÌýit’sÌýnot clear thatÌýyou’veÌýdone this action in a way that couldÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.Ìý

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this actionÌý

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.Ìý

Scheme	Action orÌýoptionÌýcodes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3	Ìý
ES options	No ES revenue options	Ìý

If an action orÌýoptionÌýcannot beÌýlocatedÌýonÌýthe same area, you may be able to do itÌýonÌýa different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘LandÌýthat’sÌýalready in other funding schemes or grants’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.   Ìý

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: Ìý

• SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
• SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2Ìý
• SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  Ìý
• CSHT actions: CHRW4
• CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows) 

Advice to help you do this action

The following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Choosing a seed mix

Sainfoin, lucerne and alsike clover are more suited to grassland that you cut.

Your seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions.

Where to sow the seed mix

When you establish the legumes, by law you cannot cultivate or apply fertilisers or pesticides to land within 2 metres (m) of the centre of a hedgerow. Read the guidance onÌýHedgerow management rules: buffer stripsÌýto understand how these rules apply to you.

It can help to sow the seed mix where you want to reduce fertiliser use.

Nitrogen fixation from the legumes will reduce if the soil phosphate and pH are not at optimal levels.

Spreading the legume areas across the farm can help to provide a network of habitats for farmland wildlife.

How and when to sow the seed mix

Your seed supplier can advise you on an overall sowing rate for the seed mix you choose.

You can sow the seed mix shallowly into a firm seedbed or overseed into an established grass sward.

Sowing the seed mix in March or April can help germination.

Alternatively, you can sow after a silage cut, as the grassland is likely to be more open.ÌýYou may get better results after the second silage cut (or late hay cut), as the regrowth is less vigorous.

Legumes sowed after August may not establish before the winter.

During establishment of the legumes

It’s advisable to keep livestock off the areas of legumes while the seedlings establish. This will prevent new grasses or legumes being grazed out.

Maintaining established legumes

Once the legumes are established, you can cut them or graze them with livestock providing you do it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This will help to reduce competition from existing plants.

You may find it helpful to readÌý. This includes guidance on how you could manage the legume areas under ‘ongoing management’.