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3 years Ìý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£765 per hectare (ha) per year  Ìý

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is thatÌýthere’sÌýan in-field grass strip:  Ìý

• on land at risk of soil erosion or surface runoffÌý

• with an intact grass sward throughout the yearÌý

The purpose of this is to: Ìý

• reduce the quantity of sediment, nutrients and pesticides transported through surface runoff waterÌý

• improve water qualityÌý

• provide habitats for wildlifeÌý

• 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

• identifiedÌýby you as being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you must keep evidence of thisÌý

• 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 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 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

25% limited area actionÌý

This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area youÌýenter intoÌýany combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the totalÌýagricultural area of your farm. Read sectionÌý4.5 ‘Limited area SFI ²¹³¦³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of the ‘limited area’ actions).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 (readÌýsection 10.1Ìý‘SSSI consent’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information for more details)Ìý

Historic environment features: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (read sectionÌý5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’Ìýin 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 static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.Ìý

What to doÌý

You mustÌýestablishÌýand maintain an in-field grass strip which has:  Ìý

• an intact grass swardÌý

• no evidence of damage from vehicle or stock access routesÌý

During late summer after the bird breeding season, you must cut the entire strip to encourage a dense sward with a variety of grasses to grow.  Ìý

You must not: Ìý

• apply fertilisers or manuresÌý

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

• allow livestock to access the stripÌý

You canÌýmaintainÌýan existing in-field grass strip 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 schemeÌýoption, such as CS option SW3 (in-field grass strips)Ìý

When to do itÌý

You must: Ìý

• establishÌýthe in-field grass strip within 12 months of this action’s start dateÌý
• maintainÌýthe in-field grass strip throughout eachÌýsubsequentÌýyear of this action’s durationÌý

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 written evidence that landÌýentered intoÌýthis action is at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use a soil management planÌýyou’veÌýalready produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 toÌýidentifyÌýthis.Ìý

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

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoicesÌý

• photographs and 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.  Ìý

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, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	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 itÌýonÌýa different area in the same land parcel. Read sectionÌý5.6 ‘Land that’s already 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)  Ìý

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.

How and where to establish the in-field grass buffer strip

You can establish the in-field grass buffer strip by either:

• sowing a seed mix
• using natural regeneration

If you’re sowing a seed mix, to help the grass buffer strip to establish you can:

• remove any subsoil compaction to prepare a seedbed (except on land with historic or archaeological features
• cut regularly in the first 12 to 24 months to encourage the grasses to tiller – try to avoid cutting when the soil is wet as that may cause compaction

To help you achieve this action’s aim, you can establish the in-field grass strip on:

• natural drainage pathways (for example, the bottom of a valley) to prevent runoff water from creating rills and gullies
• long, sloping fields with the strip placed parallel to the slope and alternated with wide, cultivated strips to slow runoff water and trap sediment and organic material

Try to avoid establishing the in-field grass trip on a public right of way. This is because the ground is likely to be compacted which means the strip may not establish as well.

Maintaining the established grass strip

Once the grass strip is established, this action requires you to cut the entire strip during late summer. Before you cut the sward, check it for signs of nesting birds. Birds, nests and eggs are protected by law, so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay cutting until the birds have fledged.

If possible, remove the cut vegetation. If it’s impractical to do this, you can leave finely chopped cuttings, spread as thinly as possible.

If you want to do this type of action on more than around one-third of the area of a field you can consider applying for SFI26 action WBD4 (arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input) instead to cover a larger area.