Policy paper

Annex B: Indicative list of Sustainable Farming Incentive actions available in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

Published 21 May 2024

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

This policy paper was withdrawn on

The information on this page is now out of date and has been withdrawn. Please read Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier: get ready to apply for the current information.

Applies to England

Annex B: Indicative list of Sustainable Farming Incentive actions available in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

Table 1 sets out an indicative list of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions that may be available to apply for in CS Higher Tier. We will confirm the list of actions this summer.

These actions are available where:聽

  • CS Higher Tier actions need to be done in combination with SFI actions to deliver the intended outcomes, and in some cases may need to be tailored to the specific site聽
  • they are supplements that support the delivery of other actions

Table 1: Indicative list of SFI actions available in CS Higher Tier

Action Annual payment
Manage hedgerows 拢13 per 100 metres for one side
Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on arable land 拢681 per hectare
Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on improved grassland 拢311 per hectare
Pollen and nectar flower mix 拢739 per hectare
Bumblebird mix 拢747 per hectare
Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land 拢853 per hectare
Supplementary winter bird food 拢732 per tonne (maximum 1 tonne for every 2 hectares of CAHL2)
Nesting plots for lapwing 拢765 per hectare
Basic overwinter stubble 拢58 per hectare
Enhanced overwinter stubble 拢589 per hectare
Whole crop spring cereals and overwinter stubble 拢596 per hectare
Unharvested cereal headland 拢1,072 per hectare
Low input harvested cereal crop 拢354 per hectare
Cultivated areas for arable plants 拢660 per hectare
Manage woodland edges on arable land 拢428 per hectare
Manage rough grazing for birds 拢121 per hectare
Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland (endorsed) 拢646 per hectare
Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs 拢151 per hectare
Supplement: Haymaking 拢157 per hectare
Supplement: Haymaking (late cut) 拢187 per hectare
Supplement: Lenient grazing 拢28 per hectare
Supplement: Cattle grazing (non-moorland) 拢59 per hectare
Create scrub and open habitat mosaics 拢588 per hectare
Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics 拢350 per hectare
Control scrub on historic and archaeological features 拢215 per hectare
Manage historic and archaeological features on grassland 拢55 per hectare
Maintain designed or engineered waterbodies 拢2,512 per hectare
Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips 拢798 per hectare
Shepherding livestock on moorland (no required stock removal period) 拢33 per hectare
Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 4 months) 拢43 per hectare
Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 6 months) 拢45 per hectare
Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for at least 8 months) 拢48 per hectare
Supplement: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (minimum 30% GLU) 拢7 per hectare
Supplement: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (minimum 70% GLU) 拢18 per hectare
Supplement: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (100% GLU) 拢23 per hectare
Moderate livestock grazing on moorland 拢20 per hectare
Low livestock grazing on moorland 拢53 per hectare
Limited livestock grazing on moorland 拢66 per hectare
Supplementary winter bird food (organic land) 拢935 per tonne (maximum 1 tonne for every 2 hectares)
Supplement: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats (50-80%) 拢92 per hectare
Supplement: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats (more than 80%) 拢146 per hectare
Supplement: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats (50-80%) 拢7 per hectare
Supplement: Keep native breeds on extensively management habitats (more than 80%) 拢11 per hectare
Herbal leys 拢382 per hectare
Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input 拢489 per hectare
Manage intensive grassland with low fertiliser input 拢311 per hectare
Manage grassland to reduce nutrient levels in groundwater 拢396 per hectare
Supplement: Nil fertiliser 拢156 per hectare