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This section contains the mandatory requirements for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions for buffer strips. These requirements are part of your? SFI agreement.

You can choose which SFI actions to do and what area of eligible land to do them 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

An overview of SFI actions for buffer strips

The SFI actions for buffer strips include:

• AHL4: establish and maintain a 4 metres (m) to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land
• IGL3: establish and maintain a 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on improved grassland

AHL4: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land

What youll be paid

Youll receive 451 per hectare per year for the total area of land you choose to enter into this action.

In your SFI application, youll enter the area measurement in hectares for each land parcel. For each buffer strip, measure the length (in metres) you want to enter into this action. Multiply that length by the relevant width (which must be 4m to 12m and can vary over the length of the buffer strip) to give you the area in m. Divide that area by 10,000 to convert it into hectares.

This actions aim

This actions aim is that theres a grass buffer strip with an intact grass sward throughout the year, without tracks, compacted areas or poaching.

The purpose of this is to:

• protect existing landscape and heritage features
• provide habitat for wildlife
• prevent pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, from being carried in surface water runoff, if located next to a watercourse
• support an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, if located close to cropped areas, which can help to reduce costs and improve farm resilience

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on eligible agricultural land located below the moorland line. The table below sets out what land is eligible for AHL4.

Eligible land for AHL4

The glossary explains what we mean by eligible land types, eligible 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 apply for this action on either the total SFI available area in each land parcel shown in your SFI application, or 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 each year.

Other land management actions or options you can do on the same area as AHL4

The table below sets out which other SFI actions, Countryside Stewardship (CS) management options, Environmental Stewardship (ES) revenue options and SFI pilot standards can be located on the same eligible area within a land parcel as AHL4.

Actions or options that can be located on the same area within a land parcel as AHL4

Use the CS grant finder to search for the CS option codes shown above.

The SFI actions for hedgerows (HRW1, HRW2 and HRW3), CS option BE3 and the introductory level of the SFI pilot hedgerows standard can be done on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into AHL4.

If an action or option cannot be located on the same area as AHL4, this is because its not an eligible land type, or the activities are incompatible, or you would be paid twice for doing the same activities on the same land. In this case, that area will be automatically removed from the affected land parcels SFI available area in your SFI application.

If this is the case, you may be able to do the action on a different area in the same land parcel if:

• its an eligible land type for the action or option
• its a part-parcel action or option
• the area used for the action or option does not overlap with the area used for AHL4

Read the information about eligibility of land used for other schemes and funding sources to find out more.

What to do

You must establish and maintain a grass strip thats at least 4m to 12m wide (on average in each land parcel) on the edge of arable and horticultural land entered into this action. It can be more than 12m wide, but youll only be paid for the 12m width.

The grass strip must buffer an existing landscape feature, or certain heritage features, such as:

• hedgerows
• stone walls
• woodland
• ditches, rivers and streams
• upstanding historic or archaeological features, such as earthworks, in
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