What changed in SFI26?

SFI26 is the current version of the scheme, following SFI22, SFI23, and SFI24. Of the 71 SFI26 actions, 50 carry GOV.UK’s own “updated for SFI26” flag, meaning something changed from the SFI24 version — new wording, eligibility, or rates.

Some of the larger changes from SFI24 to SFI26:

• Herbal leys (CSAM3) cut from £382/ha to £224/ha
• All management payments removed (CSAM1, CNUM1, CIPM1, CMOR1, the agreement management payment)
• A new £100,000 annual agreement cap introduced
• One new action added: GRH12, managing rough grassland for upland breeding waders

Importantly, these changes generally apply to new agreements only — existing SFI23 and SFI24 agreements were unaffected by the SFI26 rate cuts.