Agroforestry in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)

Find out about the agroforestry actions available in the SFI in 2024.

SFI actions for agroforestry

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) expanded offer for 2024 includes in-field agroforestry systems. The schemes available include to establish and maintain silvoarable and silvopasture agroforestry systems, so trees can be integrated and managed in arable fields or grazed grassland across different farming systems.

Benefits of agroforestry include:

• Sequestering carbon
• Supporting biodiversity and species abundance
• Mitigating climate change impacts
• Improving air quality

The actions have been designed to cover a wide range of farmers and land types. Details of the two standards are outlined below.

AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land

Actions aim: There is an established very low density in-field agroforestry system that’s maintained, so there’s a combination of both:

• trees (including shrubs)
• arable or horticultural crops, grassland for forage or areas used for other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

The purpose of this action is to:

• reduce soil erosion and flooding
• improve water and air quality
• provide shelter for crops and livestock
• contribute to carbon capture and storage

Duration: 3 years

Annual payment: £248 per ha
The hectarage can include:

• the area used to grow agroforestry trees
• the areas between the trees, used for arable or horticultural crops, grassland or other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

Additional information:
‘Very low density’ means that across the area entered into this action in each land parcel:

• there is an average of 30 to 50 trees per hectare, usually planted in rows or a grid
• the trees are spaced in a way that means you do not need to apply for a forestry environmental impact assessment (EIA)

This is a static option and therefore must be in the same location each year of the duration of the action. It needs to be done from the start date, throughout each year of the three-year duration.

The total or part of the available area in a land parcel can be used.

Visit the GOV.UK site for full details for AGF1

AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land

Actions aim: There is an established low density in-field agroforestry system that is maintained, so there is a combination of both:

• trees (including shrubs)
• arable or horticultural crops, grassland for forage or areas used for other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

The purpose of this action is to:

• reduce soil erosion and flooding
• improve water and air quality
• provide shelter for crops and livestock
• contribute to carbon capture and storage

Duration: 3 years

Annual payment: £385 per ha
The hectarage can include:

• the area used to grow agroforestry trees
• the areas between the trees, used for arable or horticultural crops, grassland or other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

Additional information:
‘Low density’ means that across the area entered into this action in each land parcel:

• there is an average of 51 to 130 trees per hectare, usually planted in rows or a grid
• the trees are spaced in a way that means you do not need to apply for a forestry EIA

This is a static option and therefore must be in the same location each year of the duration of the action. It needs to be done from the start date, throughout each year of the 3-year duration.

The total or part of the available area in a land parcel can be used.

Visit the GOV.UK site for full details for AGF2

Further information on support

The main Sustainable Farming Incentive webpage introduces the SFI scheme and the potential implications for farm businesses.

The existing tree-related capital items will continue to be available under Capital Grants 2024 on GOV.UK. Examples are fencing to protect trees, individual tree shelters and tree guards.

Agroforestry case studies

These case studies show how other farmers have integrated agroforestry systems with existing operations, including the options for support.

Elston Farm: Andy Gray is integrating agroforestry with the production of arable crops and livestock in Devon.

More case studies coming soon.