The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has launched a new online Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) cost-benefit tool designed to help farmers evaluate the financial impact of environmental scheme options ahead of the rollout of SFI 2026.
Developed in collaboration with farmers, the tool aims to provide a clearer picture of how individual SFI actions could affect farm profitability by calculating not only potential payments but also the costs associated with implementing those actions. Unlike previous assessments based on representative model farms, the new calculator allows users to input data specific to their own businesses, generating tailored financial projections.
AHDB said the resource has been created to support farmers as they navigate the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and explore opportunities available through the next phase of the SFI programme. The tool is available to businesses across the cereals and oilseeds, beef and lamb, dairy and pork sectors.
By translating SFI options into key business metrics, including income, costs and net financial benefit, the calculator enables farmers to identify which actions are likely to deliver the strongest returns. It can also help assess the opportunity cost of taking land out of production and examine how multiple actions may work together when combined, often referred to as “stacking”.
Dr Amandeep Kaur Purewal, AHDB Senior Economist, said the tool was developed in response to industry demand for more practical and farm-specific information.
“Farmers wanted to know what selecting specific SFI actions would mean for their own businesses,” she said. “By taking into account both income and implementation costs, the tool provides a more realistic assessment of the potential benefits and supports informed decision-making.”
The launch comes ahead of key SFI 2026 application windows. The first is expected to open at the end of June for smaller farms and those without existing Environmental Land Management agreements, with a second application window due to open to all farms in September.
AHDB said the tool has been tested by farmers and industry representatives to ensure it supports practical, real-world business planning.
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