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This section contains the mandatory requirements for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions for low input grassland. 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 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

SFI actions for low input grassland

The SFI actions for low input grassland are focused on improving the sustainability ofgrassland management, by reducing nutrient inputs and intensive livestock management.

There are 2 identical SFI actions with the same payment rate. One can be done on land outside the Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDAs) and one can be done on land within the SDAs below the moorland line.

The actions are:

• LIG1: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (outside SDAs)
• LIG2: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (SDAs)

Managing grassland using very low inputs can:

• provide high-quality forage for livestock
• reduce spending on artificial fertiliser, herbicides and pesticides
• protect soil from erosion

It can also help to provide a range of environmental benefits, such as:

• providing habitat for farmland wildlife
• increasing species of wildflowers, which provide food for pollinators
• reducing the loss of nutrients and pesticides to watercourse and groundwater
• keeping soil healthy and carbon-rich
• improving air quality by reducing ammonia emissions from artificial fertiliser

LIG1: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (outside SDAs) and LIG2: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (SDAs)

What youll be paid

Youll receive 151 per hectare (ha) per year (LIG1 and LIG2 have the same payment rate).

This actions aim

This actions aim (for LIG1 and LIG2) is that the grassland produces a sward with:

• flowering grasses and wildflowers from late spring and during the summer months
• a variety of plant heights by autumn, with some covering of flowering grasses and wildflowers left to go to seed and tussocky grass allowed to develop

The purpose of this is to:

• provide nectar and shelter for invertebrates and a food supply for farmland birds
• support an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach if located close to cropped areas
• minimise nutrients being carried in surface water runoff to watercourses

Where you can do this action

You can do:

• LIG1 on eligible agricultural land outside SDAs
• LIG2 on eligible agricultural land in the SDAs thats below the moorland line

The table below sets out what land is eligible for LIG1 and LIG2.

Eligible land for LIG1 and LIG2

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 LIG1 or LIG2 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 usually only apply for LIG1 or LIG2 on the total SFI available area in each land parcel shown in your SFI application. The only exception is when LIG1 or LIG2 are located on the same land parcel as IGL1 (take grassland field corners or blocks out of management).

LIG1 and LIG2 are static actions. You must do these actions 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 LIG1 and LIG2

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 LIG1 and LIG2.

Actions or options that can be located on the same area as LIG1 and LIG2

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 LIG1 or LIG2.

If an action or option cannot be located on the same area within a land parcel as LIG1 or LIG2, 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 LIG1 or LIG2

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

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