After a period of significant uncertainty throughout 2025, the government has laid out a clearer roadmap for the year ahead, confirming that SFI 2026 will launch with a dual-window approach designed to make the scheme “simpler and fairer”. The first application window will open in June, specifically prioritising smaller farms and those without an existing environmental land management agreement. A second round will then follow from September, opening the scheme to all farmers.
However, while it’s encouraging to see this phased rollout and commitments to “not close windows without warning,” important questions remain on the details, definitions, and delivery. We also know that farming life doesn’t pause for policy announcements. Between lambing, calving, planting, harvesting, and everything in between, there’s barely enough time to catch your breath, let alone navigate complex scheme applications.
That’s why we’ve built our latest month-by-month guide to fit around your existing farming activities, helping you weave preparation into your seasonal calendar so you’re ready to move swiftly when opportunities arise, without adding extra burden to already packed days.
Please note: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We strongly recommend consulting a trusted advisor before making any decisions regarding farm funding or land management decisions.
Table of Contents:
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn
End of Year
Winter
January: Foundation Setting and Future Opportunities
On the farm, January brings the rhythm of winter work, such as weaning calves and conducting hedgerow assessments before the growing season begins. But this January also brings an immediate opportunity. Higher Tier Capital Grants opened on January 5th, offering standalone funding for infrastructure improvements like concrete sluices, fencing, and handling facilities. Use Land App now to map where these improvements could sit on your holding and assess which projects align with your long-term stewardship plans.
SFI 2026’s first application window opens in June, meaning you have five months to prepare. Use this time for honest reflection by looking back at your 2025 outcomes and creating a draft “wishlist” of potential options that align with your farm business goals. But crucially, ensure your RPA mapping details, such as boundaries, hedges, and land use classifications, are flawless, as any discrepancies now can delay applications down the line.
- Capital Grants: Review Higher Tier Capital Grants (opened Jan 5th) available for a wide range of farmers and land managers.
- Mapping: Audit RPA boundaries and land use classifications in Land App.
- Strategy: Draft your SFI 2026 “wishlist” based on 2025 performance.
February: Strategic and Collaborative Planning
As calving season gathers pace late in the month and you complete final hedge planting, February’s weather can naturally nudge you towards desktop work. Use Land App’s comprehensive suite of data layers to review historical data, analyse your farm’s environmental potential, and refine your strategy with advisors before the spring rush begins.
For instance, our SHINE data download tool brings in Natural England’s Selected Heritage Inventory, helping you identify archaeological constraints early on so you can plan around sensitive areas ahead of application season.
Additionally, Land App’s collaborative tools allow you to share draft plans and maps with your advisors, making this strategic process even more seamless. Review your existing data from previous years, identify gaps, and create a clear plan for what field data you’ll need to collect once conditions improve. With the new SFI emphasising simplicity and a streamlined set of actions, understanding what works for your specific farm system now will save valuable time when more guidance is released.
- Heritage Check: Use the SHINE tool to identify archaeological constraints.
- Collaboration: Share draft maps with advisors to finalise your spring strategy.
- Data Prep: Identify which field data needs collecting once the weather breaks.
Spring
March: Spring Planning
March brings the intensity of spring farming: lambing begins, calving continues, and crop spraying demands attention. Amidst these busy activities, it’s worth checking that all your record-keeping is in order. Soil management plans, Integrated Pest Management records, and nutrient management plans are increasingly required not just for environmental schemes but for accreditation schemes like Red Tractor too. Land App’s pre-populated templates allow you to efficiently map potential projects and design scenarios, so when scheme details are confirmed, you’re ready to submit immediately.
For those with land in Wales, the Sustainable Farming Scheme opens via the Single Application Form (SAF) on 2 March and closes on 15 May. We’re committed to supporting Welsh farmers through this transition with a dedicated SFS template to streamline applications. Even if you’re England-focused, understanding SFS requirements offers valuable insight into the direction of travel for many UK schemes.
- Compliance: Update Soil, IPM, and Nutrient Management plans for SFI and Red Tractor.
- Wales (SFS): Prepare for the Sustainable Farming Scheme window (Opens March 2nd).
- Templates: Use Land App templates to pre-map projects ahead of June.
April: Application Sprint
This is when the picture becomes clear. Full scheme details for SFI 2026 will be published before the June application window, likely in April or early May. When guidance drops, review it carefully against the preparation work you’ve already done.
If you’ve mapped your potential options and organised your data in Land App, you’ll have all the measurements, boundaries, and feature details ready to drop into applications. If you’re a smaller farm or don’t have an existing environmental land management agreement, prepare to move quickly for the June priority window.
- Guidance Review: Check full SFI 2026 details (expected to be released this month).
- Eligibility Check: Confirm if you qualify for the June “Priority Window.”
- Finalise Maps: Ensure all measurements and features are ready for data transfer.
May: Whole Farm Thinking
May offers breathing space for holistic thinking as farming activity shifts to fertiliser and mulch spreading. For Scottish farmers, this month brings the 15 May deadline for completing at least two parts of your Whole Farm Plan if you’re claiming Basic Payment Scheme support. The five components — Animal Health and Welfare Plan, Biodiversity Audit, Carbon Audit, Integrated Pest Management Plan, and Soil Analysis — only need to be completed where relevant to your agricultural activities. Even if you’re outside of Scotland, these requirements should prompt broader thinking. Integrating animal health, soil management, biodiversity, and carbon considerations into your planning strengthens any environmental scheme applications and builds genuine farm resilience.
With the June SFI window approaching, also use this month for final checks. Are your field boundaries accurate? Have you identified which actions you’ll apply for? Do you understand the eligibility criteria for the priority window? If uncertainty remains, seek any final bits of professional advice so you can submit confidently when applications open.
- Scotland (WFP): Complete at least two parts of your Whole Farm Plan (Deadline May 15th).
- Final Audit: Conduct a “Whole Farm” review of soil, carbon, and biodiversity.
- June Prep: Finalise field boundary accuracy before applications open.
Summer
June: Priority Application Window Opens
The first SFI 2026 application window opens this month, prioritising farmers with small farms and those without existing environmental land management agreements. If you fall into these categories, this is your moment to submit your applications promptly and accurately.
For those not in the priority groups, use June for collecting valuable field data. It’s optimal timing for biodiversity surveys, soil health assessments, and habitat condition evaluations. Use Land App Mobile to track environmental data and measure distances directly from your smartphone or tablet while you’re out checking stock or walking boundaries. Vegetation is at its peak, wildlife activity is high, so this is an excellent time to establish the baseline conditions that will strengthen your applications.
- Apply: Submit SFI applications if you are in the priority group (Small farms/new entrants).
- Baselines: Conduct biodiversity and habitat surveys while vegetation is at its peak.
- Field Data: Use Land App Mobile to track your observations.
July: Implementation Planning
Farming demands intensify in July as livestock auctions pick up and the combine season begins. For those who submitted applications in June, you may be receiving decisions or RPA requests for clarification. For everyone else, July is prime time for using Land App’s Drawing Tools to create custom maps for potential projects, such as marking out planting areas, defining buffer zones, and planning habitat improvements. This visual planning helps you evaluate different scenarios and their feasibility before committing to your September application.
July also marks a highlight in the regenerative calendar with Groundswell taking place on July 1st–2nd. The Land App team will be there in full force, so do come and see us at our stand for a chat about your farm’s digital map, or just a catch-up!
- Refinement: Respond to any RPA requests for clarification on June applications.
- Scenario Planning: Map out buffer zones and planting areas for the September window.
August: Mid-Season Reviews
August, with harvests in full swing, represents a natural pivot point. Take time to reflect on your land management activities with fresh evidence in front of you. What’s thriving? What hasn’t been established as hoped? And what unexpected benefits or challenges have emerged? Conduct soil sampling now to inform fertiliser and cropping decisions for the coming year, ensuring your nutrient management plans remain current and evidence-based.
If you’re preparing for the September application window, this is your final opportunity to gather any missing field data or refine your plans. Review your draft applications against what you’ve observed on the ground this growing season. Does your planned approach still make sense given actual conditions? If any cover crops or habitat measures didn’t establish properly, document this thoroughly and inform the RPA in advance to avoid potential compliance issues later.
- Evidence Gathering: Take soil samples to support your Nutrient Management Plan.
- Compliance Check: Document any failed cover crops and notify the RPA if necessary.
- Final Review: Adjust draft September applications based on harvest outcomes.
Autumn
September: Second Application Window and Hedgerow Health
The second SFI 2026 application window opens this month, allowing all farmers to apply. Alongside applications, September brings one of the most valuable monitoring activities: hedgerow surveying. The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) Healthy Hedgerows survey is fully integrated within Land App and Land App Mobile, allowing you to systematically map, assess, and track hedgerow health. Alongside supporting biodiversity, landscape character, carbon storage, and stock management, healthy hedgerows are multifunctional assets likely to feature prominently in environmental schemes for years to come.
- Apply: Open window for all farmers to apply for SFI 2026.
- Hedges: Complete the PTES Healthy Hedgerows survey within Land App.
- Monitoring: Log habitat health to fulfil ongoing stewardship requirements.
October: New Cycle Planning
October provides another point for honest reflection. What worked well? What challenges arose? Which investments of time and money delivered the best returns, both financially and environmentally? Also consider what worked well in the application process itself and what could be improved. These insights are valuable not just for you, but for the broader sector as we collectively navigate this transition.
- Effectiveness Check: Consider which scheme options delivered the best financial and environmental value for your farm.
- Refining the System: Keep a record of any ‘headaches’ or missing data you encountered during the application to avoid them next year.
November: Consolidating Documentation
As livestock feeding begins in earnest and ploughing continues, November offers a window to consolidate data and ensure documentation is up to date. Well-organised records, from soil testing results to capital expenditure receipts, simplify future applications and prepare you for audits or site visits. If you’ve received SFI agreements this year, ensure you’re tracking all management activities and outcomes as required by your agreement terms.
Land App’s data management features store and retrieve all necessary information in one place, making consolidation straightforward rather than requiring you to hunt through filing cabinets, email attachments, and contractor records.
- Data Consolidation: Centralise soil test results and capital receipts in Land App.
- Agreement Tracking: Ensure all management activities are logged as per scheme terms.
End of Year
December: Goal Setting for 2027
While December brings its own demands, from feeding livestock to winter cereal crop spraying, it’s also a natural point for reflection. Use this time to celebrate your achievements, reflect on your progress, and set goals for the next cycle, knowing that you can enter 2027 with confidence, ready to build on the foundations laid this year.
We’ll keep this blog updated with the latest developments, so be sure to check back throughout the year. We also share monthly Defra updates on the blog and subscribe to our newsletter to get these insights straight to your inbox each month.
