What it means for your rotation

This week, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs confirmed major changes to farm policy for 2026. But from a cropping and seed perspective, the message is straightforward.

• Funding is more focused.
• Budgets are capped.
• Payment rates have shifted.

That changes how rotations need to be planned.

DEFRA has confirmed the full SFI 2026 offer, announced 24 February 2026.

The key changes

• 71 actions down from 102. Fewer options, more targeted outcomes.
• £100,000 annual cap per farm
• A firm ceiling per business. For some this will not bite. For others it will fundamentally alter how hectares are allocated.

Reduced rates on some popular actions, including herbal leys, winter bird food, and legume fallow.

The options that drove significant seed demand over the past few years are still there. But the economics have shifted. Previously, these options offered a great value to growers. Less so now, with herbal ley payments down 41% and winter bird down 24%. Forcing growers to seriously reconsider the monetary value per hectare of these actions.

A herbal ley that does not perform is no longer just a stewardship decision. It directly affects margin.

A Winter bird food plot, is no longer money in the bank, with a good view of the local wildlife from the kitchen window.

What This Means for Rotation Planning

With a £100,000 cap in place, area allocation becomes strategic.

You may need to ask:

Which SFI actions genuinely fit the farm system?

Is it time to consider lower paying options across large swathes of the farm? CSAM2/SOH3 cover cropping options, have strong soil health benefits, and when large areas are put in, can still total a lot in SFI payments.

Which options deliver both payment and performance?

CAHL1 pollen and nectar mixtures remain unchanged and still offering a premium payment, whilst also offering benefits to biodiversity and soil health an arguably better option than CAHL2 in the first place.

Look outside SFI?

Whilst feed wheat prices remain disappointing in 2026. There are more and more opportunities for growers to consider alternative ‘added value ventures’ whether that is growing crops on a seed contract, regenerative schemes or exploring opportunities within niche crops. We at Cope are always on the lookout for diligent growers who want to expand their rotations.

This is not about dropping environmental options. It is about selecting mixtures and cropping plans that justify their place in the rotation.

Some businesses will reduce hectares in certain options. Others will move quickly to secure what still works.

That means two things from a seed perspective:

• Mixture choice needs more scrutiny

• Forward planning matters more than ever

Leaving decisions late may limit flexibility, especially where specialist species or bespoke blends are required.

At Cope, we are already reviewing 2026 rotations with growers who want clarity before application windows open.

We are focusing on:

• Grass and forage options that deliver performance, not just compliance
• Cover crop and stewardship blends that earn their place
• Added value non SFI cropping options

Policy is tightening. Budgets are capped. Performance matters.

Your seed choices now sit directly at the centre of that equation.

If you would like to review your SFI options, or secure supply for 2026, call me directly on 01529 421081 or email george@copeseeds.co.uk

Let us make sure your rotation works commercially as well as compliantly.