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3 yearsÌýÌý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌýÌý

£27 per hectare (ha) per yearÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Action’s aimÌýÌý

This action’s aim is that precision farming equipment is used to apply all major nutrients:ÌýÌýÌý

• at a variable rate, which means the nutrient application rate is automatically variedÌý

• to match the nutrient needs of crops on different areas of landÌý

The purpose of this is to:ÌýÌý

• reduce over-application of nutrientsÌý

• improve yields from more consistent crop growth and qualityÌý

• improve water and air qualityÌý

Where you can do this actionÌýÌý

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

• receiving applications of at least one major nutrient (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K)Ìýand magnesium (Mg)) at a rate typically above 100 kilograms (kg) N per ha, 40kg P per ha and 40kg K per ha per yearÌý

• an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)ÌýÌý

• registered with an eligible land cover on your digital mapsÌýÌý

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

Eligible landÌýÌý

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
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01	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 (readÌýsection 5.3Ìý‘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.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.ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Rotational or static actionÌýÌý

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

• 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 must apply all major nutrients across the landÌýentered intoÌýthis action using Variable Rate Application (VRA) equipment.Ìý

The VRA equipment must be either:ÌýÌý

• pre-programmed with a ‘variable rate file’ using data from zonal soil or crop testing and analysis or remote sensingÌý

• linked to a tractor or sprayer mounted crop reflectance sensorÌý

You must make sure the VRA equipment automatically varies the application rate of the major nutrients in a way that canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim.ÌýÌýÌý

The only exception to this is if you applyÌýan initialÌý‘wake up’ application ofÌýnitrogen ÌýtoÌýarable crops in late winter or early spring. In this case, you can:Ìý

• use equipment that is not VRA equipmentÌý

• apply the nitrogen at a ‘flat rate’ for theÌýinitialÌý‘wake up’ application onlyÌý

For the purposes of this action, major nutrients include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K)Ìýand magnesium (Mg), as relevant, contained in:ÌýÌýÌý

• manufactured fertilisers – solid or liquidÌýÌý

• solid manures – such as farmyard manure, poultry litter, sewage sludge or biosolidsÌýÌý

• slurry or digestate,Ìýincluding separated liquidÌýÌý

You do not need to use VRA equipment to apply:Ìý

• micro-nutrients, such as boron or sulphurÌý

• lime, because is not a nutrient – it helps to increase the availability of major nutrients and controls soil acidity (pH)Ìý

‘Zonal’ soil testing means you divide land parcels into soil management zones and take soil samples within each zone. ÌýÌý

The data from zonal soil testing and analysis must cover a minimum of P, K,ÌýMgÌýandÌýpH.ÌýYou can use existing zonal soil testing analysis if it:Ìý

• meets this action’s requirementsÌý

• is less than 5 years oldÌý

When to do itÌýÌý

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.ÌýÌý

How to do itÌýÌý

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

• 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 keepÌýÌý

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

• invoices for zonal soil testing and analysisÌý

• the ‘variable rate file’ uploaded to the VRA equipmentÌý

• an ‘as applied’ VRA recordÌýat a land parcel levelÌý

• initial flat rate N application records showing the product, the rate and date of application (if relevant)Ìý

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoicesÌý

• contractor’s invoice if you use a contractor to do this actionÌý

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.ÌýÌý

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

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, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, CAHL2, CIGL2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM2, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3, WBD4, WBD6, WBD7	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, AHW1, AHW10, AHW11, AHW5, AHW6, AHW7, AHW8, CAHL2, CIGL2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM2, CSAM1, CSAM2, CSAM3, OFA1, OFA6, OFC1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM1, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, PRF3, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3, SOH4, WBD4, WBD5, WBD6, WBD7, WBD8	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	AHL2, IGL2, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM2, SAM1, SAM2, SAM3	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAB11, CAB14, CAB16, CAB17, CAB2, CAB5, CAB6, CAB7, CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CGS4, CHS3, CHS9, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW13, CSW15, CSW16, CSW7, CSW8, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	AB1, AB11, AB14, AB15, AB16, AB2, AB5, AB6, AB7, AB8, AB9, GS3, GS4, HS2, HS3, HS9, OP1, OP2, OP4, OP5, OR1, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT1, OT3, OT4, OT5, SW10, SW12, SW13, SW5, SW6, SW7, SW8, SW9	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 SFI26 scheme information for more details.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

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 â¶Ä¯Ìý
• CSHT actions: CHRW4
• CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows) â¶Ä¯Ìý

Advice to help you do this actionÌý

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

How to carry out ‘zonal’ soil testing

To carry out zonal soil testing, you can divide land parcels into soil management zones by using:

• a grid to identify 1ha areas, and take soil samples from each 1ha area
• soil scanning to map different areas, and take representative soil samples in each area (usually a minimum of around one per 3ha in each area)

Where possible, avoid taking soil samples on any area of land with historic or archaeological features identified on your SFI â¶Ä¯HEFER. If you need to take soil samples, readÌýsection 5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’Ìýin theÌýSFIÌýscheme information before doing so.

How to apply nitrogen usingÌýVRAÌýequipment

To apply nitrogen (N), you can useÌýVRAÌýequipment that’s either:

• pre-programmed with a ‘variable rate file’ using data from crop testing and analysis or remote sensing of crop reflectance – remote sensing will usually need to be carried out no more than around 14 days before the application of N to reasonably achieve this action’s aim
• linked to a tractor or sprayer mounted crop reflectance sensor which varies the application rate in real time