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3 years Ìý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£532 per hectare (ha) per year Ìý

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is thatÌýthere’sÌýan established legume fallow with plants that:  Ìý

• grow and flower from late spring and during the summer months Ìý

• provide green cover over the winter months Ìý

The purpose of this is to: Ìý

• manage nutrient efficiency and improved soil health Ìý

• provide food for farmland wildlife, such as pollen and nectar for pollinators and farmland birds Ìý

• support an integrated pest management approach by reducing grass weeds and, ifÌýlocatedÌýclose to cropped areas, encourage natural crop pest predators Ìý

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’ in the SFI26 scheme information)Ìý

• registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps Ìý

• declared with a land useÌýcode which is compatible with the eligible land cover Ìý

Eligible landÌý

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for ²¹°ù²¹²ú±ô±ðÌý³¦°ù´Ç±è²õ or leguminous and nitrogen-fixingÌýcrops	Ìý
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01	Ìý
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01	Ìý
Permanent crops – horticultural	Permanent crops	TC01	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: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (read sectionÌý5.3 ’Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).Ìý

Available area you canÌýenter intoÌýthis actionÌý

Total or part of the available area in a land parcel. It’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 duration Ìý

What to doÌý

You mustÌýestablishÌýa legume fallow on landÌýentered intoÌýthis action.  Ìý

You must use a seed mix whichÌýcontainsÌýat least 6 flowering species, including legumes. The seed mix canÌýcontainÌýlegumes such as: Ìý

• alsike clover Ìý

• bird’s foot trefoil Ìý

• black medick Ìý

• common vetch Ìý

• lucerne Ìý

The seed mix can also include: Ìý

• non-legume flower species Ìý

• grasses, such as cocksfoot or timothy, which can help to control blackgrass Ìý

You must avoid growing deep rooted legumes, such as lucerne, on any area in a land parcel thatÌýcontainsÌýhistoric or archaeological features. These areÌýidentifiedÌýin your SFI HEFER. Ìý

Once the legume fallow isÌýestablishedÌý(usually from the second spring after sowing), you mustÌýmaintainÌýit. To do this, you must manage it in a way, and forÌýa period of time, that canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim. Ìý

You must not do the following on the established legume fallow: Ìý

• graze it with livestock – if you want to do this you may want to consider action CSAM3 (herbal leys) instead which allows grazing activity  Ìý

• use the area for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)Ìý

• cut it, except to prevent blackgrass from setting seed or to control other annual grass weeds Ìý

• apply any fertilisers and manures Ìý

• apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injuriousÌýweeds, invasive non-nativeÌýspecies, nettles or bracken Ìý

You canÌýmaintainÌýan existing legume fallow to get paid for this action if it:  Ìý

• meets this action’s requirements Ìý

• is not already being paid for under another environmental land management schemeÌýoption, such as CS option AB15 (two yearÌýsown legume fallow) Ìý

When to do itÌý

You must: Ìý

• establishÌýthe legume fallow by the autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start date Ìý

• maintainÌýthe legume fallow at the same location forÌýa period of timeÌýthat canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim – this will usually be until the end of the second summer after sowing Ìý

• re-establish the legume fallow by the following autumn (either at the same location or a different location) andÌýmaintainÌýit until this action’s end dateÌý

If you want toÌýestablishÌýa legume fallow in the spring and remove it in the summer during the same year, you should apply for the summer-sown cover crops action (SOH3). 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 aim Ìý

You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’,ÌýbutÌýit’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 invoices, including details of the seed mix used Ìý

• 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, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5	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’Ìýin 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 

This action explains the minimum requirement for flowering species, including legumes, in the seed mix (under ‘What to do’).

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 legume fallow, 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.

When you sow the seed mix, it can help to use sites: 

• that receive plenty of sunlight, for better foraging habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects 
• where you wish to control grass weeds, such as blackgrass 
• where soil health and compaction need improving 
• where you want to reduce soil run-off during winter 
• where you want to reduce your fertiliser use in the following crop 

Try to avoid sowing the seed mix on sites that are: 

• difficult to access and manage (like remote field corners) 
• known to contain rare arable wildflowers 
• known to support injurious and other broad-leaved weeds which can be difficult to control, such as common ragwort, creeping thistle, spear thistle, broad-leaved dock, curled dock 

Spreading the legume fallow 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. 

It can help the seeds to germinate if they’re sown: 

• into a consolidated seedbed that’s firm, fine, level and weed free 
• when the weather and soil moisture is best for the crops in your seed mix – this is usually spring or autumn, but it will be easier to control grass weeds in spring-sown fallows

You can either:

• broadcast the seeds onto the surface of the seedbed to help germination
• shallow-drill the seeds up to a depth of 1 centimetre (cm) – small seeds usually struggle to germinate when sown deeper than 1cm

After you have sown the seed mix (if the soil is dry enough), you can roll the seeds to: 

• improve seed-to-soil contact 
• keep moisture 
• reduce the risk of slug damage 

During establishment of the sown legume fallow  

In the first few months after sowing, it’s advisable to check the area for successful germination and pest damage.  

If establishment is poor, you may need to re-sow part or all the area. Your seed supplier can help you if you’re unsure what to do. 

Maintaining established areas of legume fallow  

Once the area is established, you can maintain it by managing it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. 

During the first spring and summer after sowing, you can control annual grass weeds, such as blackgrass, by: 

• cutting as soon as it starts to produce seed heads 
• doing follow up cuts as necessary to remove further seed heads 

During the second year after sowing, you can control blackgrass by:

• cutting between March and mid-June
• leaving the area uncut for around 8 weeks between June and August – this will help to allow plants to flower for as long as possible to provide pollen and nectar for insects

Check the area for signs of nesting birds before you cut it.ÌýBirds, nests and eggs are protected by law, so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay cutting until the birds fledge 

Remove the cut vegetation (where possible) to limit weeds and reduce the risk of it smothering the flower species. If this is impractical, you can finely chop the vegetation to spread them as thinly as possible.