Stacking analysis for Arable: Breakdown of SFI income for options A and B

The tables below show the income that the 455 ha arable farm would receive for carrying out different SFI actions after the costs of carrying out these actions have been subtracted. 

The tables accompany Figures 2 and 5 of the arable analysis. The graphs show the three-year projection of income received by the virtual farm from direct payments and SFI actions for options A and B.

Option A – breakdown of income (Figure 2)

CodeActionIncome (£)
Year 1Year 2Year 3
  SFI management payment 2,000 1,000 1,000
CSAM1 Assess soil, test soil organic matter (SOM), produce soil management plan 2,410 2,410 2,410
CSAM2 Multi-species winter cover crop -182 -182 -182
CHRW1* Assess and record hedgerow condition 2,324 2,324 2,324
CHRW2* Manage hedgerows 6,042 6,042 6,042
CHRW3 Maintain or establish hedgerow trees 2,324 2,324 2,324
CIPM1 Assess integrated pest management and produce a plan 1,129 1,129 1,129
CIPM3 Companion crop on arable land 1,278 1,278 1,278
CIPM4 No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops 3,038 3,038 3,038
CNUM1 Assess nutrient management and produce a plan 652 652 652
PRF1 Variable rate application of nutrients 947 947 947
SOH1 No-till farming -2,908 5,585 5,585
SOH3 Multi-species summer-sown cover crop -615 -615 -615

*Both sides of hedgerow entered

For CSAM1, soil organic matter testing was carried out on a third of the area entered into the action per year of the three year SFI agreement.

For CSAM2 and CSAM3, the costs associated with carrying out the action were found to be higher than the payment received for the 455 ha arable farm, resulting in an overall deficit of £182 and £615 for each year of the scheme. This deficit, however, can be absorbed by income received from other actions where the payment outweighs the cost. The cost of seed used and spraying and drilling costs will also vary from farm to farm and so may provide a positive payment in other cases.

As the 455 ha virtual arable farm does not have the means on farm to apply nutrients at a variable rate for PRF1, contractor costs are used. For farms that have equipment to carry out variable rate application of nutrients, the net payment, and so overall income from the action will be higher than that shown in the table.

For SOH1, there is a deficit in year 1 as reduction in yield is accounted for with the associated cost factored in.

It was assumed that the farm incurred no extra cost for carrying out the actions HRW1, HRW2, HRW3, IPM1 and NUM1, and so the net payment rate was identical to the gross payment rate, as published by Defra (and shown in Table 1 on the arable main page).

Option B – breakdown of income (Figure 5)

CodeActionIncome (£)
Year 1Year 2Year 3
  SFI management payment 2,000 1,000 1,000
CSAM1 Assess soil, test SOM, produce soil management plan 2,410 2,410 2,410
CSAM2 Multi-species winter cover crop -182 -182 -182
CHRW1* Assess and record hedgerow condition 2,324 2,324 2,324
CHRW2* Manage hedgerows 6,042 6,042 6,042
CHRW3 Maintain or establish hedgerow trees 2,324 2,324 2,324
CIPM1 Assess integrated pest management and produce a plan 1,129 1,129 1,129
CIPM3 Companion crop on arable land 1,278 1,278 1,278
CIPM4 No use of insecticide on arable crops and permanent crops 3,038 3,038 3,038
CNUM1 Assess nutrient management and produce a plan 652 652 652
PRF1 Variable rate application of nutrients 947 947 947
SOH1 No-till farming -2,908 5,585 5,585
SOH3 Multi-species summer-sown cover crop -615 -615 -615
CIPM2 Flower rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips 1,499 3,990 3,990
CNUM3 Legume fallow 520 520 520
CAHL1 Pollen and nectar flower mix 2,466 3,695 3,695
CAHL2 Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land 3,494 3,494 3,494
CAHL3 Grassy field corners and blocks 1,470 2,655 2,655
CAHL4 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land 100 206 206
AHW2 Supplementary winter bird food 30 30 30
AHW9 Unharvested cereal headland 25 25 25
BFS4 Protect in-field trees on arable land 133 133 133

*Both sides of hedgerow entered

CIPM2, CAHL1 and CAHL3 provide a lower income in year 1 due to associated establishment costs.

The income from AHW2 could be higher for farms that use saved seed on-farm. The income shown for the 455ha virtual arable farm is based on purchased supplementary seed.

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