Rural Payments Agency
This section contains the mandatory requirements for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) action for moorland. These requirements are part of your SFI agreement.
You can choose what area of eligible land to do the actions on. There are no mandatory combinations of actions, and no minimum or maximum areas.
What we explain in each SFI action
The details of each SFI action explain:
- the actions aim
- where you can do the action - this includes what land is eligible, whether its a rotational or static action, and which other environmental land management actions or options you can do on the same area within a land parcel (noting that it may also be possible to do part-parcel actions on another area within the same land parcel)
- what you need to do for the action
- when to do the action
- how to do the action which is up to you, as long as its done in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve the actions aim
- what evidence to keep
Overview of the SFI action for moorland
The SFI 2023 offer includes one action for moorland (MOR1: Assess moorland and produce a written record). It combines the 3 SFI actions from the introductory level of the SFI moorland standard we introduced in 2022.
From 2024, we will introduce more actions and payments, beyond those already available in environmental land management schemes, which will pay you to carry out activities on the moorland that maintain or enhance the environmental benefits it provides.
Moorland areas may also be eligible for other funding, such as:
- Countryside Stewardship (CS), which has a range of options for moorland areas
- Farming in Protected Landscapes
- Landscape Recovery
- private sector schemes
MOR1: Assess moorland and produce a written record
How much youll be paid
Youll receive 10.60 per hectare (ha) and 272 per SFI agreement per year.
This actions aim
This actions aim is that you understand how your moorland contributes to providing environmental benefits and how it could provide more in the future.
Where you can do this action
You can do this action on eligible land located above the moorland line. You can check MAGIC to find out if your land is above the moorland line.
The table below sets out what land is eligible for MOR1.
Eligible land for MOR1
Eligible land type | Eligible land use code | Compatible land cover |
---|---|---|
Moorland | PG01 | Permanent grassland |
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog | Non-agricultural | Other (non-agricultural) |
The glossary explains what we mean by land types, land use codes and compatible land covers.
The SFI application service will automatically calculate what area may be eligible for this action in each land parcel. This is called the SFI available area. You must check this area is an eligible land type. Find out how the SFI available area is calculated in the information on land thats eligible for the SFI actions.
You can only apply for this action on the total SFI available area in each land parcel shown in your SFI application. You cannot apply for it on part of that area.
This action is static. You must do it on the same area of eligible land each year of your 3-year SFI agreement. You cannot move the area around each year.
You cannot enter land above the moorland line into this action if its:
- farmyards
- used for turf or peat production
You also cannot enter a land parcel into this action if the majority of its area is located below the moorland line or its permanent grassland below the moorland line.
Other land management actions or options you can do on the same area as MOR1
The table below sets out which other SFI actions, CS management options, ES revenue options and SFI pilot standards can be located on the same eligible area within a land parcel as MOR1.
Actions or options that can be located on the same area within a land parcel as MOR1
Scheme | Action or option codes that can be located on the same area as MOR1 |
---|---|
SFI 2023 | No other area-based SFI actions, as they cannot be done above the moorland line |
CS | All CS management options (if located above the moorland line) |
ES | All ES revenue options (if located above the moorland line) |
SFI pilot | No SFI pilot standards |
Use the CS grant finder to search for the CS option codes shown above.
The SFI actions for hedgerows (HRW1, HRW2 and HRW3) and CS boundary options can be done on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into MOR1.
Read the information about eligibility of land used for other schemes and funding sources to find out more.
What to do
You must complete a survey to identify, assess and record the soil, vegetation, and historic and archaeological features across the moorland area entered into this action.
To do this, you must divide the moorland area you enter into this action into blocks of around 10ha. You must then select a sample point within each 10ha block thats broadly representative of the blocks main vegetation and soil types.
At each sample point, you must identify, assess and record:
- soil types and condition, including the depth and wetness of any peat
- vegetation types and condition, including their height and structure
- the extent of bare ground
- the presence of historic and archaeological features - these will be identified in your SFI?HEFER - read the information about hist