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3 yearsÌý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£129 per hectare (ha) per yearÌý

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is thatÌýthere’sÌýa multi-species cover crop that’s:Ìý

• well-established over the winter monthsÌý

• present between harvesting a cash crop andÌýestablishingÌýthe next cash cropÌý

The purpose of this is to:Ìý

• protect the soil surfaceÌý

• provide root growth that benefits soil structureÌý

• supports soil biology and minimises nutrient leaching, soilÌýerosionÌýand runoffÌý

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 section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI 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
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arable crops 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) can offer you an SFI26 agreementÌý

• have received SSSI consent from Natural England before you do this action (read section 10.1 ‘SSSI consent’ in 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 section 5.3 ’Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI 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.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. Read section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply with your agreement’ in 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 mustÌýestablishÌýa multi-species cover crop on landÌýentered intoÌýthis action which will not be harvested as a ‘cash crop’.Ìý

A ‘cash crop’ means a crop grown to be harvested for commercial use.Ìý

You mustÌýestablishÌýthe multi-species cover crop early enough so it canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim.Ìý

You must use a seed mix thatÌýcontainsÌýat least 2 species from 2 or more of the following plant families:Ìý

• brassicasÌý

• legumesÌý

• cereals or grassesÌý

• herbsÌý

You must avoid growing deep rooted species on any area within a land parcel with historic or archaeological featuresÌýidentifiedÌýin your SFI HEFER. Read section 5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI SFI26 scheme information for more details. Ìý

You mustÌýmaintainÌýthe multi-species cover crop over the winter months in a way that canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim. You can graze the cover crop with livestock, but it must still be well-established over the winter months.Ìý

For the purposes of this action’s aim, the cover crop will be well-established if there’s:Ìý

• leafy vegetation that’s sufficiently well grown so the cover crop protects the soil surface for the duration of the winter months (usually from early December until late February)Ìý

• minimal bare soilÌý

If something happens which means you cannot complete thisÌýactionÌýyou must tell the RPA in writing as soon as possible. For example, if there’s prolonged adverse weather which means the cover crop is not well-established. Read section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply with your agreement’ in the SFI SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this.Ìý

You must not do the following on the well-established cover crop:Ìý

• mechanically apply any fertilisers or manuresÌý

• destroy it before the end of the winter months, unlessÌýyou’reÌýestablishingÌýan early-sown spring cropÌý

IfÌýyou’reÌýestablishingÌýan early-sown spring crop, you may destroy the multi-species cover crop before the end of the winter months. You must not do this more than 6 weeks before youÌýestablishÌýthe early-sown spring crop.Ìý

When you destroy the multi-species cover crop, you should try to minimise risks such as compaction, poaching, soilÌýrunoffÌýor erosion.Ìý

You canÌýmaintainÌýan existing multi-species cover crop to get paid for this action if it:Ìý

• meets this action’s requirementsÌý

• is not already being paid for under another environmental land management schemeÌýoptionÌý– you can use a cover crop paid for under SOH3 (multi-species summer-sown cover crop) to meet this action, but only if you overseed it Ìý

When to do itÌý

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.Ìý

If this action’s start date meansÌýit’sÌýtoo late for you to do this action, you must start doing it within 12 months of the action’s start date.Ìý

In the final year of this action’s duration, you must do this action until the end of the winter months, or this action’s end date, whichever is earlier.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’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

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 usedÌý

• 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, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, CIPM3, CIPM4, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFA6, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB11, CAB14, CAB5, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	AB11, AB14, AB5, HS3, HS9, OP5, OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4	Ìý
ES options	No ES revenue options	Ìý

If an action orÌýoptionÌýcannot beÌýlocatedÌýonÌýthe same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’ in the SFI 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 mixÌýÌý

This action explains the minimum requirement for species in the seed mix (under ‘What to do’). The table shows examples of what you could use.

Species you could use

Plant family	Species
Brassicas	Yellow mustard, brown mustard, oil radish, tillage radish, stubble turnip, kale
Legumes	Common vetch, hairy vetch, red clover, white clover, alsike clover, sweet clover, crimson clover, lucerne, black meddick, peas and beans
Cereals or grasses	Italian ryegrass, festulolium, black oats, forage rye, barley, winter triticale
Herbs	Phacelia, buckwheat, linseed

Choosing a varied mix (with multiple species from different plant families and with different characteristics) will normally bring greater benefits to your soil.

If you’re in an area with a shorter growing season you may need to choose plants that germinate and grow in cooler weather.

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

You may find it helpful to read the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)Ìý.

Where to establish the cover crop

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

How to sow the cover cropÌý

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

To help the cover crop achieve this action’s aim, it will usually help to sow the seed mix into warm soils. Depending on the species in your mix, this will be late summer or early autumn.

You can drill or broadcast the seed mix. Drilling seeds is usually more reliable and gives a higher germination success than broadcasting. However, broadcasting is cheaper.

After you have sown the seed mix you can roll the seeds if the soil is dry enough. This can help to:

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

How to destroy the cover cropÌý

If you’re destroying the cover crop after the winter months, it’s up to you what method you use.