SFI Shepherd
SFI26 Applications: Simplified
Plan your SFI26 application field by field, before the window opens
Stack actions on each field
Pick a field and add the SFI26 actions you're considering - stack more than one where the rules allow it. Payments and areas update as you go.
Clashes flagged as you build
Actions that conflict with each other, with the field, with the agreement cap, or with a previous SFI or Countryside Stewardship agreement are flagged straight away.
See value on the map, field by field
Colour every field by its payment value, so you can spot which fields are carrying the application and which aren't.
Compare drafts side by side
Build as many versions as you want, then compare them on area, payment and cap headroom before committing.
Export the finished application
Export a summary ready for review and upload to the RPA portal.
See SFI Shepherd in action!
John Snow
Farm Hand, Winterfell
Hectares using Soil Benchmark
Farms using Soil Benchmark
Get started in 30 seconds
Create your account
Sign up with just an email address. No card details required - it's completely free to get started.
Add your farm
Use your SBI number to import field boundaries in England (or pick your fields in Wales or Scotland).
Build your plan
Add SFI26 actions field by field, with clash checks and the 25% area limit updating as you go.
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Soil Benchmark makes it quick and easy!
Effortless
Risk maps and soil proposals come ready-made, spreadable areas auto- calculated, and compliance flagged live for RB209, NVZs & product labels.
Independent
We are completely independent. There's no need to worry about who your applications or costings data is shared with - the answer is nobody!
Trusted
Farms covering 1.3m ha have used the platform to get through thousands of inspections. Our team includes soil scientists and FACTS qualified coders!
Evolving
We build based on what users ask for, and release new features most weeks. Get in touch for live support from the actual people who make the platform.
Designed for
Farmers & Advisors
Whether you advise lots of farms or run your own, we fit the way you work.
For farmers
- Receive and manage recommendations from your advisor and share with your team
- Inspection-ready reports and plans - clear and fully compliant
- Only pay for the farms and plans you use - simple, annual pricing
For advisors
- Professional, compliant plans and recs - easy to produce quickly for lots of farms
- Share straight with your clients and track what they've actually applied
- One subscription covers all your farms - no matter the hectarage
Our happy customers
"Very easy piece of software to use. The team are all very helpful if you have a problem... and they are always asking us what we would like to see improved."
"Soil benchmark has been an absolute lifesaver... It really has been a huge asset to our business and the support from the team is outstanding."
"Easy to use, helps keep you compliant with industry standards and there are some brilliant features that allow you to get a more in-depth understanding of land! Highly recommend!"
Quicker, smarter
farm management software
Soil Sage
Soil plans
SFI SAM1-compliant Soil Management Plans, with all your risk maps and field-by-field management proposals auto-populated. Plus map your soil samples with our AI-importer.
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Nutrient Nerd
Nutrient plans
RB209-compliant Nutrient Management plans for both SFI NUM1 and Red Tractor audits, with Farming Rules for Water and NVZ checks built in as you go. Plus clear, comprehensive reports ready for inspections.
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Crop Rex
Spray recommendations
Quickly and easily create Spray Recommendations for pesticide applications - check they're compliant and share them between agronomist and farmer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Still got questions? Email info@soilbenchmark.com or book a call with us via Calendly.
Yes, and it is worth doing, because Window 2 is likely to run out quickly. Build and compare as many drafts as you like in advance, so when the window opens you are transcribing a finished plan rather than working it out. The thing that catches people is how the budget is counted. DEFRA closes the window once submitted applications cover the budget, not once offers are made, so waiting for the 75% update is waiting too long.
Yes, as you build rather than after. Actions go on field by field and anything that does not work is flagged at the point you add it. It checks which actions can be done on the same land, whether the action is allowed on that land type and cover, the 25% limited-area total across the whole holding rather than field by field, and the agreement-level rules and caps.
Yes, existing agreements are checked against what you are planning so you do not apply for something on land that is already committed. We are building this part out at the moment, so if you have a complicated set of existing agreements do get in touch and we will work through it with you.
No. Applications are submitted on the RPA portal. Soil Benchmark exports an application summary so you can enter it quickly and accurately.
Yes. Draft as many as you like and compare them side by side on value, area and actions before committing to one.
Yes! Please click here to arrange a 30 minute demo.
In short - it's completely free to start using Soil Benchmark; we charge to export or share this information outside the platform (either via our reports, or via our map snapshot feature). Please see the SB Farm and SB Agronomist pages for full pricing details.
Longer answer: without paying a penny you can add as many farms as you like, and use almost all the features of the platform. That could be viewing and editing the pre-populated risk maps, soil maps, details of waterways and sensitive areas, and auto-suggested management actions in Soil Sage. Or getting RB209 nutrient recommendations, planning manure or fertiliser applications, and checking NVZ compliance in Nutrient Nerd. Or creating - and checking the legality of - pesticide spray recommendations in Crop Rex. Or drafting your SFI26 application in SFI Shepherd.
SB Farm unlocks all four products on a farm for £475 per farm, per cropping year. Only need one? Any single product is £200 per farm, per cropping year, or £150 where one of the users on that farm has an active SB Agronomist licence.
You only pay when you are ready, and you can choose to convert any number of the farms you have loaded onto the system, for only the plans you require.
Agronomists can buy SB Farm on a farmer's behalf, and we can invoice either of you. For the rest of your clients - the farms without SB Farm - an SB Agronomist licence lets you carry on sharing spray and fertiliser recommendations and creating basic nutrient management reports. It's £500 per user, per year and covers every farm you have access to.
See the SB Farm and SB Agronomist pages for full pricing details.