What does the BPS/ELM Payment Calculator do?

Calculate Sustainable Farming Incentive and ELM payments for 10+ environmental actions. All calculations are performed in your browser using official UK rates and thresholds.

Are these based on Defra rates?

Where applicable, this calculator uses rates and data from Defra, the Rural Payments Agency and industry standard references for UK agriculture.

Does this account for regional variations?

UK farming conditions vary by region, soil type and climate. This calculator provides national average figures — adjust for your specific location and circumstances.

BPS/ELM Payment Calculator

Calculate Sustainable Farming Incentive and ELM payments for 10+ environmental actions.

Last updated: April 2026 · Source: Defra — Sustainable Farming Incentive guidance

Hedgerow Management

£13.00 per 100m

Buffer Strips (6m)

£451.00 per ha

Winter Cover Crop

£129.00 per ha

Herbal Ley

£382.00 per ha

Soil Assessment

£97.00 per agreement

Flower-Rich Margins

£739.00 per ha

No Insecticide (arable)

£45.00 per ha

Companion Crop

£55.00 per ha

Pollen & Nectar Mix

£614.00 per ha

Woodland Management

£49.00 per ha

Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Environmental Land Management (ELM) rates for England 2025. Apply via Rural Payments Agency. Rates are indicative.

Disclaimer

This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

How It Works

Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes replaced the EU's Basic Payment Scheme in England. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pays farmers for environmental actions alongside food production. Countryside Stewardship (CS) covers more targeted environmental outcomes such as habitat creation and flood risk management.

SFI payments are made per hectare or per metre of hedgerow/margin, depending on the action. Common actions include: herbal leys (£382/ha), nutrient management (£652/ha for advanced), hedgerow management (£13/100m) and low-input grassland (£151/ha). Multiple actions can be stacked on the same land where compatible.

This calculator estimates your annual payment based on the actions you select and the area or length of feature. It shows which actions are stackable and flags any incompatibilities. Payment rates are set by Defra and reviewed annually.

Example: 80 ha arable farm with SFI

Nutrient management (advanced) on 80 ha: 80 × £652 = £52,160
Companion cropping on 30 ha: 30 × £55 = £1,650
Hedgerow management, 2,000 m: 2,000 ÷ 100 × £13 = £260
Winter bird food on 4 ha: 4 × £853 = £3,412
Total estimated annual SFI payment: £57,482

Source: Defra — Sustainable Farming Incentive guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the BPS/ELM Payment Calculator do?: Calculate Sustainable Farming Incentive and ELM payments for 10+ environmental actions. All calculations are performed in your browser using official UK rates and thresholds.
Are these based on Defra rates?: Where applicable, this calculator uses rates and data from Defra, the Rural Payments Agency and industry standard references for UK agriculture.
Does this account for regional variations?: UK farming conditions vary by region, soil type and climate. This calculator provides national average figures — adjust for your specific location and circumstances.