In the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme, there are three actions that can specifically benefit soil health. Grass and forage expert Paul Morgan is here to help, exploring the three actions for soils (CSAM) that could benefit your farm.
Please note: for a full breakdown of the SFI Actions for Soils, please consult the latest handbook.
CSAM1: Soil health
By enrolling in CSAM1, you can potentially receive £6 per hectare and an additional payment of £97 per agreement per year. This entails assessing soil, producing a soil management plan, and testing soil organic matter on your farm. While in CSAM1, SFI also lets you apply for CSAM2 or CSAM3 for additional funding.
An agreement runs for three years, requiring you to complete yearly actions to maintain eligibility. You can apply if land has leguminous and nitrogen fixing crops else arable crops, permanent crops, TG01, FA01, or PG01.
The Sustainable Farming Incentive will require that you complete a soil assessment and finalise a soil management plan in the first 12 months of your agreement. You must then review the plan in years two and three, adding new soil analyses.
Soil organic matter (SOM) testing is required for all three years, undertaken only on land parcels submitted in your agreement. Please note that any SOM testing results that reach five years old must be retested.
Streamlining the process, SFI allows farmers to use existing soil analysis and management plans produced in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, SOM results obtained within the last five years can be used in your agreement.
CSAM2: Multi-species winter cover
With this three-year agreement, you can establish multi-species as cover crops during winter to receive £129 per hectare, per year. SFI is providing this to protect the soil surface and generate root growth for the benefit of soil structure and biology while minimising nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff.
Eligible land for CSAM2 must be below the moorland line, classified as leguminous and nitrogen fixing crops, arable crops, TG01, FA01, or TC01.
In CSAM2, you’ll need to establish multi-species in time to cover soil during winter, which SFI defines as December, January and February. When sowing an eligible CSAM2 mixture, it must contain at least two species from two or more of the following plant families.
| Plant family | Species |
| Brassica | Brown mustard, Kale, Oil radish, Stubble turnip, Radish, Yellow mustard |
| Grasses or cereals | Barley, Black oats, Festulolium, Forage rye, Italian ryegrass, Winter triticale |
| Legumes | Alsike clover, Black medick, Common vetch, Crimson clover, Hairy vetch, Lucerne, Peas and beans, Red clover, White clover |
| Herbs | Buckwheat, Chicory, Linseed, Phacelia, Plantain |
You cannot mechanically apply any fertilisers or manures on the land designated in your agreement. It can also not be destroyed before the end of the winter months unless establishing an early-sown crop in spring.
Evidence can be requested during each year of your three-year agreement and can include photographs of your registered land parcels.
CSAM3: Herbal leys (multi-species swards)
Also known as multi-species swards, herbal leys can be established under a CSAM3 agreement in SFI for farmers to receive £382 per hectare, per year. This is to improve soil health, structure and fertility.
Eligible land must be under the moorland line, including leguminous and nitrogen fixing crops, arable crops, TG01, FA01, or PG01 codes.
Actions are static if new herbal leys or multi-species swards are established and cannot be moved, whereas existing leys can be moved in the second or third year and resown.
As an example, a multi-species sward could include a mixture of grasses, legumes and herbs (here are details on the government definition of herbal leys). Seed must be sown and multi-species established in the first 12 months of your agreement.
| Plant family | Requirement | Species |
| Grasses | 1 or more grass species | Cocksfoot, Festulolium, Meadow fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, Smooth-stalked meadow grass, Tall Fescue, Timothy |
| Legumes | 2 legume species | Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Black medick, Clover (red and white), Lucerne, Sainfoin, Vetch (common and winter) |
| Herbs | 2 herbs | Burnet, Chicory, Ribwort plantain, Yarrow |
Once established, you can cut or graze multi-species with livestock in CSAM3. SFI states that inorganic nitrogen fertiliser applications must be restricted to more than 40kg N/ha per year.
Expert guidance available
There’s a lot to consider when registering for any of these SFI actions, especially regarding crossover with Countryside Stewardship mixtures and schemes. For advice on seed selection and grassland management, you can call or email a Germinal expert today.
Please consult the Sustainable Farming Incentive handbook for a full breakdown of the actions and terms. Find our current SFI mixtures here.