Defra has released new guidance on funding and grants available for agroforestry. Land stewards can be paid £1268.08 for creating a plan and maintenance funding is available from the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship. Currently, however, capital payments are unavailable.
Agroforestry plan (PA4)
Agroforestry plan funding is designed to support land stewards in planning, creating, and the ongoing management of your agroforestry system. They will help farmers to take a holistic view to consider how their agroforestry plans fit within the context of your landholding and local landscape.
Land Stewards will be paid £1268.08 to complete the plan and will receive specialist advice or sign-off from a Forestry Commission Agroforestry Woodland Officer or a Natural England adviser.
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
The SFI agroforestry offer pays farmers and land managers to take up or maintain sustainable farming and land management practices that reduce soil erosion and flooding, improve water and air quality, provide shelter for crops and livestock and contribute to carbon capture and storage.
Currently, SFI funding for in-field agroforestry is only available on ‘less sensitive land’.
The SFI scheme options are:
Maintain ‘very low density’ in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (AGF1)
Tree density: 30 to 50 trees per hectare (ha)
Payment rate: £248 per ha per year
Maintain ‘low density’ in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land (AGF2)
Tree density: 51 to 130 per hectare (ha)
Payment rate: £385 per ha per year
Countryside Stewardship
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) agroforestry offer pays farmers and land managers to take up or maintain sustainable farming and land management practices that reduce soil erosion, improve water and air quality on agricultural land, provide shelter for livestock, reduce flooding and contribute to net zero targets.
There are 4 CSHT scheme options:
Very low density (CAGF4)
Tree density: 30 to per hectare (ha)
Payment rate: £248 per ha per year
Low density (CAGF2)
Tree density: 51 to 130 per hectare (ha)
Payment rate: £385 per ha per year
Medium density (CAGF3)
Tree density: 131 to 250 per hectare (ha)
Payment rate: £595 per ha per year
High density (CAGF1)
Tree density: 251 to 400 per hectare (ha)
Payment rate: £849 per ha per year
You must complete an agroforestry plan (capital item PA4) before you can apply for CSHT options.