DEFRA have today released outline guidance for the new Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) scheme, alongside confirmation that applications for the first window will open in June 2026. Whilst the full scheme guidance is still to come, this publication gives us a much clearer picture of how the new scheme will operate and confirms a number of significant changes from previous SFI rounds. Two application windows confirmed As previously indicated, SFI26 will operate wit