October 2015
The Upper Aire Land Management and Habitat Improvement Project, a partnership project involving Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Partnership along with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency, has been announced as Large Project Winner of the Wild Trout Trust Conservation Award 2015! - For more details of the announcement click here and see our Project page for more about the project.
The Upper Aire Land Management and Habitat Improvement Project, a partnership project involving Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Partnership along with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency, has been announced as Large Project Winner of the Wild Trout Trust Conservation Award 2015! - For more details of the announcement click here and see our Project page for more about the project.
December 2014
Countryside Stewardship - Sound Familiar?
From Karen Stanley
So, the New Environmental Land Management Scheme is called Countryside Stewardship – sound familiar? It will replace:
- Environmental Stewardship (ES)
- English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS)
- Capital grants from the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) programme
Applications will be accepted for Countryside Stewardship from July 2015. Agreements and payments will begin in 2016.
Countryside Stewardship will have 3 main elements with agreements usually running for 5 years:
1. Higher Tier (similar to the current Higher Level Stewardship)
2. Mid-Tier (which will replace Entry Level Stewardship)
3. Lower tier of capital grants, including the Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital Grants (read page 8 of guidance booklet)
The Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital Grant will offer funding up to a maximum of £5,000 per applicant who doesn’t have a Higher or Mid-Tier agreement or a current ES agreement. These grants will mainly be for small-scale restoration of boundary features, like hedgerows and stone walls. Major restoration projects would be funded under the Higher Tier.
The new Higher and Mid-Tier agreements will use the same ‘targeted’ approach as HLS.
The new scheme will help:
Wildlife and nature: by restoring habitats, protecting hedges, providing food and nesting resources for birds, insects and other animals, and creating farmed areas for rare flowering plants.
Pollinators: by providing pollen and nectar sources and nesting places. Farmers will be able to provide the right resources for pollinators where they are most needed.
Forestry: by funding the planting of new trees and supporting the management of woodlands. Applications will be accepted from February 2015 for Countryside Stewardship woodland options for woodland creation, tree health and woodland management plans. Planting must be for at least 3ha with each block a minimum of 0.5ha. The exception is woodlands for water where minimum planting is 1ha with each block at least 0.1ha.
Water/flooding – making water cleaner and reducing risk of flooding by supporting changes to farming practice (such as crop management), improving farm infrastructure and creating woodland. Capital grants upto £10,000 per holding available from spring 2015 in CSF priority catchments.
If you already have an ES agreement which runs into 2015 or beyond, this will carry on until it ends. This is similar for EWGS agreements, though these might have to change when the new regulations come into force.
The new scheme is voluntary and all applications will be processed through the new online service.
The proposed payment rates and more detailed information for Countryside Stewardship have been published on www.gov.uk/cap-reform
If you’re interested in the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme give us a call:
Phil: 0771 3333170
Karen: 0771 3333185
Ann: 0771 3333206
Claire: 07827 975703
Countryside Stewardship - Sound Familiar?
From Karen Stanley
So, the New Environmental Land Management Scheme is called Countryside Stewardship – sound familiar? It will replace:
- Environmental Stewardship (ES)
- English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS)
- Capital grants from the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) programme
Applications will be accepted for Countryside Stewardship from July 2015. Agreements and payments will begin in 2016.
Countryside Stewardship will have 3 main elements with agreements usually running for 5 years:
1. Higher Tier (similar to the current Higher Level Stewardship)
2. Mid-Tier (which will replace Entry Level Stewardship)
3. Lower tier of capital grants, including the Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital Grants (read page 8 of guidance booklet)
The Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital Grant will offer funding up to a maximum of £5,000 per applicant who doesn’t have a Higher or Mid-Tier agreement or a current ES agreement. These grants will mainly be for small-scale restoration of boundary features, like hedgerows and stone walls. Major restoration projects would be funded under the Higher Tier.
The new Higher and Mid-Tier agreements will use the same ‘targeted’ approach as HLS.
The new scheme will help:
Wildlife and nature: by restoring habitats, protecting hedges, providing food and nesting resources for birds, insects and other animals, and creating farmed areas for rare flowering plants.
Pollinators: by providing pollen and nectar sources and nesting places. Farmers will be able to provide the right resources for pollinators where they are most needed.
Forestry: by funding the planting of new trees and supporting the management of woodlands. Applications will be accepted from February 2015 for Countryside Stewardship woodland options for woodland creation, tree health and woodland management plans. Planting must be for at least 3ha with each block a minimum of 0.5ha. The exception is woodlands for water where minimum planting is 1ha with each block at least 0.1ha.
Water/flooding – making water cleaner and reducing risk of flooding by supporting changes to farming practice (such as crop management), improving farm infrastructure and creating woodland. Capital grants upto £10,000 per holding available from spring 2015 in CSF priority catchments.
If you already have an ES agreement which runs into 2015 or beyond, this will carry on until it ends. This is similar for EWGS agreements, though these might have to change when the new regulations come into force.
The new scheme is voluntary and all applications will be processed through the new online service.
The proposed payment rates and more detailed information for Countryside Stewardship have been published on www.gov.uk/cap-reform
If you’re interested in the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme give us a call:
Phil: 0771 3333170
Karen: 0771 3333185
Ann: 0771 3333206
Claire: 07827 975703
October 2014
Water and Wildlife
From Ann Hanson
Attending a recent meeting of the Dales to Vale Rivers Network to discuss potential project work along the River Wharfe and the lower Ouse got me thinking more generally about how we manage our watercourses and ditches, and the effects this can have on riparian wildlife such as otters, water voles and water shrews. I’ve also recently been spending some of my “spare” time helping with a project to encourage water voles in an urban nature reserve, St Nicholas Fields in York. Part of my contribution was to carry out a baseline survey of the water vole population on the site, aided by my partner in crime Rob, but when faced by deep, wader-sucking silt and head high nettles and Himalayan balsam in our hunt for burrows and droppings, we retreated and decided on a very different survey method water vole rafts. Water voles are well known for their propensity to leave droppings on strange objects in their home range, including bits of wood, polystyrene, old fridges, etc. We decided to harness this natural behaviour by constructing small rafts from polystyrene sandwiched between two pieces of thin plywood, with a rope (baler twine of course) tethering each raft to a hazel stick on the bank. Rafts were placed at 30m intervals along the ditches and checked weekly for water vole droppings, and it worked!
Strange survey techniques aside, water voles really do need our help. We’ve lost over 95% of our water vole populations in Yorkshire in the last 20 years or so, mainly due to predation by introduced American mink, but also due to habitat loss, changes in ditch management and summer flooding which can affect breeding success.
Many miles of ditches are managed by farmers across Yorkshire and these are the very places where water voles can still survive away from the main rivers and predatory mink. Managing with water voles in mind doesn’t mean no management at all and most ditches can be successfully managed for both farming and wildlife. In addition, water voles are now fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), so farmers and other landowners have an obligation to take them into account when managing ditches and watercourses.
Best practice ditch management recommendations for areas where water voles may be present include:
- Survey ditches for signs of water voles before work commences to avoid accidental damage to burrows.
- Leave gaps of 10 - 20m between management areas as untouched refuge areas for water voles.
- Try to leave at least one third of a ditch system untouched at any point in time.
- Try not to interfere with ditch banks when de-silting or dredging in order to avoid damage to burrow systems.
- When dredging is required, the work should be carried out during winter (ie: from mid-September to late January) and the spoil disposed of away from the ditch edge. This avoids disruption to habitat during the water vole breeding season.
- When re-profiling banks, work from one bank only and, where there is flowing water, progress upstream in short stretches. Working upstream allows for better colonisation of disturbed substrate by plants and invertebrates. This means that the bank side vegetation will recover more quickly and the area will be ready for recolonisation by water voles. This work should also be carried out during the winter period.
- Vegetation cutting or removal within the channel should be minimised and preferably carried out on a 3 to 5 year rotation, with work taking place over winter (ie: from mid-September to late February).
- If necessary, bank side vegetation should be cut on a one to two year rotation, preferably with only one bank being cut at a time in late autumn or early spring (ie: between mid-September and late February). This should maintain the drainage function of the ditch and provide a constant supply of food and cover for water voles. The use of herbicides should be avoided.
- If ditches dry out completely in summer, it may be possible to put in sluices to retain water more permanently, but permission may be required from the local IDB or EA office.
- Ditch habitat may be enhanced for water voles by the provision of buffer strips alongside the ditch, especially in arable areas, and the fencing off of livestock on grassland. The creation of ponds and wetlands adjacent to ditches can also be beneficial to water voles, but again permission may be required from the local IDB or EA office.
This kind of ditch management will also benefit a range of other farm wildlife including ground nesting birds and small mammals on the ditch banks, so next time your ditches are in need of a bit of maintenance, please keep water voles in mind.
Water and Wildlife
From Ann Hanson
Attending a recent meeting of the Dales to Vale Rivers Network to discuss potential project work along the River Wharfe and the lower Ouse got me thinking more generally about how we manage our watercourses and ditches, and the effects this can have on riparian wildlife such as otters, water voles and water shrews. I’ve also recently been spending some of my “spare” time helping with a project to encourage water voles in an urban nature reserve, St Nicholas Fields in York. Part of my contribution was to carry out a baseline survey of the water vole population on the site, aided by my partner in crime Rob, but when faced by deep, wader-sucking silt and head high nettles and Himalayan balsam in our hunt for burrows and droppings, we retreated and decided on a very different survey method water vole rafts. Water voles are well known for their propensity to leave droppings on strange objects in their home range, including bits of wood, polystyrene, old fridges, etc. We decided to harness this natural behaviour by constructing small rafts from polystyrene sandwiched between two pieces of thin plywood, with a rope (baler twine of course) tethering each raft to a hazel stick on the bank. Rafts were placed at 30m intervals along the ditches and checked weekly for water vole droppings, and it worked!
Strange survey techniques aside, water voles really do need our help. We’ve lost over 95% of our water vole populations in Yorkshire in the last 20 years or so, mainly due to predation by introduced American mink, but also due to habitat loss, changes in ditch management and summer flooding which can affect breeding success.
Many miles of ditches are managed by farmers across Yorkshire and these are the very places where water voles can still survive away from the main rivers and predatory mink. Managing with water voles in mind doesn’t mean no management at all and most ditches can be successfully managed for both farming and wildlife. In addition, water voles are now fully protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), so farmers and other landowners have an obligation to take them into account when managing ditches and watercourses.
Best practice ditch management recommendations for areas where water voles may be present include:
- Survey ditches for signs of water voles before work commences to avoid accidental damage to burrows.
- Leave gaps of 10 - 20m between management areas as untouched refuge areas for water voles.
- Try to leave at least one third of a ditch system untouched at any point in time.
- Try not to interfere with ditch banks when de-silting or dredging in order to avoid damage to burrow systems.
- When dredging is required, the work should be carried out during winter (ie: from mid-September to late January) and the spoil disposed of away from the ditch edge. This avoids disruption to habitat during the water vole breeding season.
- When re-profiling banks, work from one bank only and, where there is flowing water, progress upstream in short stretches. Working upstream allows for better colonisation of disturbed substrate by plants and invertebrates. This means that the bank side vegetation will recover more quickly and the area will be ready for recolonisation by water voles. This work should also be carried out during the winter period.
- Vegetation cutting or removal within the channel should be minimised and preferably carried out on a 3 to 5 year rotation, with work taking place over winter (ie: from mid-September to late February).
- If necessary, bank side vegetation should be cut on a one to two year rotation, preferably with only one bank being cut at a time in late autumn or early spring (ie: between mid-September and late February). This should maintain the drainage function of the ditch and provide a constant supply of food and cover for water voles. The use of herbicides should be avoided.
- If ditches dry out completely in summer, it may be possible to put in sluices to retain water more permanently, but permission may be required from the local IDB or EA office.
- Ditch habitat may be enhanced for water voles by the provision of buffer strips alongside the ditch, especially in arable areas, and the fencing off of livestock on grassland. The creation of ponds and wetlands adjacent to ditches can also be beneficial to water voles, but again permission may be required from the local IDB or EA office.
This kind of ditch management will also benefit a range of other farm wildlife including ground nesting birds and small mammals on the ditch banks, so next time your ditches are in need of a bit of maintenance, please keep water voles in mind.
September 2014
Water, water.. everywhere?
From Phil Lyth
Water tends to be one of those things we take for granted, except when there’s either too much of it, or not enough! This seems to have been an increasingly common pattern over the past few years, and unfortunately these extremes sound like they’re going to occur much more frequently in the future if climate change predictions are correct. It would be wise to consider the likely impact of this on your farm and plan for the future.
Water-related issues have driven a number of initiatives which Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Partnership (YFWP) Advisers have been involved with recently, including the River Nidd Catchment Sensitive Farming Project on the Nidd upstream of the A1, and the Upper Aire Land Management and Habitat Improvement Project in the Aire valley between Keighley and Malham. Here we are working with farmers and landowners to find ways to improve the quality of our rivers and streams, as well as to lower flooding risk by reducing the rate at which water flows out from the uplands after heavy rain.
High river flows often cause bank erosion, and the resulting sediment has adverse effects on the river habitat for fish and other aquatic life, so we are actively involved with work to protect riverbanks by fencing, tree planting and willow “spiling” and “bundling” – Green solutions using live willow to help protect and restore eroding banks.
”Slowing the Flow” has also become a bit of a buzz word recently. Creating “leaky dams” and stormwater ponds on farmland, which fill in heavy rain and then slowly drain out, is one approach which is likely to become more mainstream (pardon the pun!) over the next few years. Creating farm reservoirs to store surplus winter water for use in the growing season, and rainwater harvesting are also likely to increase in importance. Key to all of this of course is a well-structured soil, free from compaction and with a good organic matter content, which allows rainwater to soak in and provide temporary storage.
One the face of it, trees may not seem directly linked to water conservation, but last year we helped to deliver a Forestry Commission “Woodlands for Water” grant as part of their English Woodland Grant Scheme. This offered £4800/ha for new woodland creation in locations identified as helping to slow runoff and reduce flooding (with the land also retaining its Single Farm Payment eligibility). We have just heard that this scheme is likely to be re-opened for a short period in January to March 2015, so please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in some free help with an application when the scheme is launched.
If you’d like advice on any issues related to water on your farm, YFWP Advisers can help and would be pleased to hear from you.
Water, water.. everywhere?
From Phil Lyth
Water tends to be one of those things we take for granted, except when there’s either too much of it, or not enough! This seems to have been an increasingly common pattern over the past few years, and unfortunately these extremes sound like they’re going to occur much more frequently in the future if climate change predictions are correct. It would be wise to consider the likely impact of this on your farm and plan for the future.
Water-related issues have driven a number of initiatives which Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Partnership (YFWP) Advisers have been involved with recently, including the River Nidd Catchment Sensitive Farming Project on the Nidd upstream of the A1, and the Upper Aire Land Management and Habitat Improvement Project in the Aire valley between Keighley and Malham. Here we are working with farmers and landowners to find ways to improve the quality of our rivers and streams, as well as to lower flooding risk by reducing the rate at which water flows out from the uplands after heavy rain.
High river flows often cause bank erosion, and the resulting sediment has adverse effects on the river habitat for fish and other aquatic life, so we are actively involved with work to protect riverbanks by fencing, tree planting and willow “spiling” and “bundling” – Green solutions using live willow to help protect and restore eroding banks.
”Slowing the Flow” has also become a bit of a buzz word recently. Creating “leaky dams” and stormwater ponds on farmland, which fill in heavy rain and then slowly drain out, is one approach which is likely to become more mainstream (pardon the pun!) over the next few years. Creating farm reservoirs to store surplus winter water for use in the growing season, and rainwater harvesting are also likely to increase in importance. Key to all of this of course is a well-structured soil, free from compaction and with a good organic matter content, which allows rainwater to soak in and provide temporary storage.
One the face of it, trees may not seem directly linked to water conservation, but last year we helped to deliver a Forestry Commission “Woodlands for Water” grant as part of their English Woodland Grant Scheme. This offered £4800/ha for new woodland creation in locations identified as helping to slow runoff and reduce flooding (with the land also retaining its Single Farm Payment eligibility). We have just heard that this scheme is likely to be re-opened for a short period in January to March 2015, so please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in some free help with an application when the scheme is launched.
If you’d like advice on any issues related to water on your farm, YFWP Advisers can help and would be pleased to hear from you.
August 2014
CAP Update in Brief
From Karen Stanley
There are approximately 18,000 people currently claiming SPS, who have less than 5 ha eligible land. Unless they do something different for 2015 they will not be eligible for the new Basic Payment Scheme. This is because in England there will be a minimum claim size of 5 hectares for the new scheme.
Anyone affected will be receiving a letter over the next 2 weeks explaining the different options available to them. One option is to transfer entitlements to someone else. This can be done using the RLE1 form and must be submitted to the RPA by 21st October 2014. The RLE 1 form and guidance can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/transfer-sps-entitlements
Everyone should by now have received the CAP August 2014 Update including ‘Greening: how it works in practice’. Although there are still many grey areas we now know existing grass margins will be eligible for EFA’s and potentially crop diversification under fallow. Margins provide valuable wildlife habitat as well as protecting hedges, ditches and woodland from arable operations. They support wild flowers, invertebrates, small mammals and birds. I urge you to try and maintain your existing margins rather than ploughing them out.
Existing buffer strips adjacent to watercourses, ponds and temporary dry ditches are eligible as EFAs. They must be a minimum of 1m wide and can overlap with the cross compliance requirement. 1m length is worth 9m2 of area (this is a high scoring option). If you have existing 4 or 6m margins they are eligible as fallow where 1m2 of fallow is worth 1m2 of EFA. They cannot be cropped but can be grazed or cut or sown with wild bird mix or nectar mix so can be managed so suit many different needs.
From next year, the start of hedge trimming is delayed. Hedges cannot be trimmed until 1st September until 31st March. Maintaining your margins will also allow greater accessibility and flexibility in timing your hedge cutting. Cutting in January / February after the berries have been eaten will also spread out your workload over the winter months.
If you would like to discuss future cross compliance and EFA requirements please give one of us a call.
CAP Update in Brief
From Karen Stanley
There are approximately 18,000 people currently claiming SPS, who have less than 5 ha eligible land. Unless they do something different for 2015 they will not be eligible for the new Basic Payment Scheme. This is because in England there will be a minimum claim size of 5 hectares for the new scheme.
Anyone affected will be receiving a letter over the next 2 weeks explaining the different options available to them. One option is to transfer entitlements to someone else. This can be done using the RLE1 form and must be submitted to the RPA by 21st October 2014. The RLE 1 form and guidance can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/transfer-sps-entitlements
Everyone should by now have received the CAP August 2014 Update including ‘Greening: how it works in practice’. Although there are still many grey areas we now know existing grass margins will be eligible for EFA’s and potentially crop diversification under fallow. Margins provide valuable wildlife habitat as well as protecting hedges, ditches and woodland from arable operations. They support wild flowers, invertebrates, small mammals and birds. I urge you to try and maintain your existing margins rather than ploughing them out.
Existing buffer strips adjacent to watercourses, ponds and temporary dry ditches are eligible as EFAs. They must be a minimum of 1m wide and can overlap with the cross compliance requirement. 1m length is worth 9m2 of area (this is a high scoring option). If you have existing 4 or 6m margins they are eligible as fallow where 1m2 of fallow is worth 1m2 of EFA. They cannot be cropped but can be grazed or cut or sown with wild bird mix or nectar mix so can be managed so suit many different needs.
From next year, the start of hedge trimming is delayed. Hedges cannot be trimmed until 1st September until 31st March. Maintaining your margins will also allow greater accessibility and flexibility in timing your hedge cutting. Cutting in January / February after the berries have been eaten will also spread out your workload over the winter months.
If you would like to discuss future cross compliance and EFA requirements please give one of us a call.
July 2014
Combines and mowers roll…
From Claire Foster
So far the weather we’ve had in June and July has made for a good summer and the fine conditions (with the exception of the odd thunder shower) have allowed everyone to progress nicely with harvesting, whether in arable or grass crops. Crops are forward with the winter wheat harvest starting 8 days ahead of normal in Cambridgeshire. The same applies to grass silage and hay, with many dales farmers finishing hay-timing by the end of July – which is unheard of!
Sadly, it now looks like the fine weather is breaking and more unsettled weather will hit us in August, as the jet stream moves south. I hope those of you finding time to read this between combining, baling, silaging and hay-timing are getting good yields. It’s always nice to see stores and barns full of grain and forage to set you up for the winter.
With arable fields being cleared and stubbles left behind it’s a good time to carry out soil sampling, before any organic manures, lime or P & K fertilisers are applied. However, if you normally sample at a different time of year, e.g., in winter, you should stick to this as samples will only be meaningful if taken at the same point in the rotation and at the same time of year. This consistency is important as factors such as soil moisture can affect measured nutrient and pH concentrations.
In any case, soil sampling should be done when the soil nutrient status is in a settled state, at least 2 months after the last fertiliser application, 3 months after manure or slurry and 12 months after liming. Grassland is usually best sampled during the winter months when livestock are housed, but before the first dressing of manure or slurry.
Basic soil sampling and analysis for pH, P, K and Mg should be carried out every 3-5 years on arable land and intensive grassland. On permanent pasture the frequency can be reduced to every 7 years, unless grass management changes. The depth at which soil cores are taken is a crucial factor in the soil sampling process. Normal depths are 15 cm (6 inches) for arable soils and 7.5 cm (3 inches) for grassland. However, where minimum cultivation is practiced, there is a risk that the traditional sample depth will over or under-estimate the nutrient status.
In ploughed fields, nutrients are mixed into a fairly uniform soil layer 20-25 cm deep (depending on ploughing depth). Nutrient concentrations in a core taken to 15 cm should be the same as those in the whole mixed layer.
However in min-till situations (cultivated to 5cm), applied nutrients will tend to accumulate in this shallow mixed layer leading to higher concentrations in the top of the soil profile. Nutrient concentrations in a sample to 15 cm depth will not be equivalent to those in the traditional mixed layer, and will lead to an over-estimation of the P & K available to the crop.
Where fields are ploughed after several years of minimum cultivation, the shallow soil layer relatively rich in nutrients will be buried by ploughing to a depth that is not accessed during normal soil sampling. Samples taken after ploughing can therefore under-estimate the supply of P & K available to the crop.
In conclusion, the sampling depth should be increased from 15cm to the ploughing depth in fields where min-till is or has been regularly used, to ensure soil analysis results are not skewed.
When sampling, it is also vital to avoid headlands, gateways, trees, mole hills, dung/urine patches, water troughs, feeding areas, areas where lime or manure has been stored, old hedgerows, middens, ponds and any other irregular features.
Greening latest…
Now harvest is well underway, many farmers will be thinking about the next crops to go in the ground and planning their autumn drilling. Although there are still several unknowns which Defra have promised to clarify in August, it is still important that farmers start planning for greening now, with crop diversification and EFAs dictating cropping plans.
What we know
- Winter and spring cereals count as two different crops. This will be based on the variety information in the HGCA Recommended List rather than actual sowing date.
- Using hedgerows towards EFA will delay the BPS payment to as late as June 2016, due to lack of mapping detail and a need to verify their existence.
- Only ELS/OELS/UELS agreements set up after January 2012 will be subject to payment reductions due to “double-funding”. No HLS agreements will be affected.
- To qualify for EFA, nitrogen-fixing crops must be combinable, i.e., peas and beans. Non-combinable legumes such as clover, lucerne and other herbaceous forage will not count towards EFA.
- Cover crops for EFA have to be established by 1st October following the BPS application.
- EFA features have to be located on or adjacent to arable land.
- EFAs are likely to have their own management prescriptions.
- Land occupied by outdoor pigs and poultry will be classed as temporary grass and permanent grass after 5 years.
- Fallow land and legumes can count towards both EFA and crop diversification.
- The non-cutting period for hedges will be extended to 1st March – 31st August in 2015.
- The Soil Protection Review will be removed in 2015.
What we don’t know
- Whether EFA features will each have to be of a minimum size.
- Whether EFA buffer strips along watercourses have to be of a minimum width and what this is, and whether it can overlap with the 1m Cross Compliance margin.
- Whether non-EFA eligible features such as wild bird mixes, field corners, buffer strips and grass margins not along watercourses are classed as fallow land.
- The extent of the fallow period – likely to be a minimum of 6 months including 15th May.
- Who claims the EFA on boundary hedges.
- How long cover crops need to be in the ground for to qualify towards EFA.
Combines and mowers roll…
From Claire Foster
So far the weather we’ve had in June and July has made for a good summer and the fine conditions (with the exception of the odd thunder shower) have allowed everyone to progress nicely with harvesting, whether in arable or grass crops. Crops are forward with the winter wheat harvest starting 8 days ahead of normal in Cambridgeshire. The same applies to grass silage and hay, with many dales farmers finishing hay-timing by the end of July – which is unheard of!
Sadly, it now looks like the fine weather is breaking and more unsettled weather will hit us in August, as the jet stream moves south. I hope those of you finding time to read this between combining, baling, silaging and hay-timing are getting good yields. It’s always nice to see stores and barns full of grain and forage to set you up for the winter.
With arable fields being cleared and stubbles left behind it’s a good time to carry out soil sampling, before any organic manures, lime or P & K fertilisers are applied. However, if you normally sample at a different time of year, e.g., in winter, you should stick to this as samples will only be meaningful if taken at the same point in the rotation and at the same time of year. This consistency is important as factors such as soil moisture can affect measured nutrient and pH concentrations.
In any case, soil sampling should be done when the soil nutrient status is in a settled state, at least 2 months after the last fertiliser application, 3 months after manure or slurry and 12 months after liming. Grassland is usually best sampled during the winter months when livestock are housed, but before the first dressing of manure or slurry.
Basic soil sampling and analysis for pH, P, K and Mg should be carried out every 3-5 years on arable land and intensive grassland. On permanent pasture the frequency can be reduced to every 7 years, unless grass management changes. The depth at which soil cores are taken is a crucial factor in the soil sampling process. Normal depths are 15 cm (6 inches) for arable soils and 7.5 cm (3 inches) for grassland. However, where minimum cultivation is practiced, there is a risk that the traditional sample depth will over or under-estimate the nutrient status.
In ploughed fields, nutrients are mixed into a fairly uniform soil layer 20-25 cm deep (depending on ploughing depth). Nutrient concentrations in a core taken to 15 cm should be the same as those in the whole mixed layer.
However in min-till situations (cultivated to 5cm), applied nutrients will tend to accumulate in this shallow mixed layer leading to higher concentrations in the top of the soil profile. Nutrient concentrations in a sample to 15 cm depth will not be equivalent to those in the traditional mixed layer, and will lead to an over-estimation of the P & K available to the crop.
Where fields are ploughed after several years of minimum cultivation, the shallow soil layer relatively rich in nutrients will be buried by ploughing to a depth that is not accessed during normal soil sampling. Samples taken after ploughing can therefore under-estimate the supply of P & K available to the crop.
In conclusion, the sampling depth should be increased from 15cm to the ploughing depth in fields where min-till is or has been regularly used, to ensure soil analysis results are not skewed.
When sampling, it is also vital to avoid headlands, gateways, trees, mole hills, dung/urine patches, water troughs, feeding areas, areas where lime or manure has been stored, old hedgerows, middens, ponds and any other irregular features.
Greening latest…
Now harvest is well underway, many farmers will be thinking about the next crops to go in the ground and planning their autumn drilling. Although there are still several unknowns which Defra have promised to clarify in August, it is still important that farmers start planning for greening now, with crop diversification and EFAs dictating cropping plans.
What we know
- Winter and spring cereals count as two different crops. This will be based on the variety information in the HGCA Recommended List rather than actual sowing date.
- Using hedgerows towards EFA will delay the BPS payment to as late as June 2016, due to lack of mapping detail and a need to verify their existence.
- Only ELS/OELS/UELS agreements set up after January 2012 will be subject to payment reductions due to “double-funding”. No HLS agreements will be affected.
- To qualify for EFA, nitrogen-fixing crops must be combinable, i.e., peas and beans. Non-combinable legumes such as clover, lucerne and other herbaceous forage will not count towards EFA.
- Cover crops for EFA have to be established by 1st October following the BPS application.
- EFA features have to be located on or adjacent to arable land.
- EFAs are likely to have their own management prescriptions.
- Land occupied by outdoor pigs and poultry will be classed as temporary grass and permanent grass after 5 years.
- Fallow land and legumes can count towards both EFA and crop diversification.
- The non-cutting period for hedges will be extended to 1st March – 31st August in 2015.
- The Soil Protection Review will be removed in 2015.
What we don’t know
- Whether EFA features will each have to be of a minimum size.
- Whether EFA buffer strips along watercourses have to be of a minimum width and what this is, and whether it can overlap with the 1m Cross Compliance margin.
- Whether non-EFA eligible features such as wild bird mixes, field corners, buffer strips and grass margins not along watercourses are classed as fallow land.
- The extent of the fallow period – likely to be a minimum of 6 months including 15th May.
- Who claims the EFA on boundary hedges.
- How long cover crops need to be in the ground for to qualify towards EFA.
June 2014
Farming with waders..
From Phil Lyth.
As we await the announcement on the shape of the new environmental land management scheme to be introduced in January 2015, it seems likely that the number of farms which will benefit, and the amount of new funding will inevitably be lower than in the past. We have had 25 years of agri-environmental support, and in the process we have learned a lot about how best to manage farms for wildlife (and in some cases how not to!). Perhaps now we need to re-focus on the many opportunities for farm with wildlife in mind without the need for grant incentives, and the responsibility we all have to protect the environment for today and for future generations. As a farmer once said to me.. “If it’s worth doing, it’s probably worth doing without a grant!”
One of the great things about spring and early summer on upland farms is the return of Lapwing and Curlew with their iconic calls. These species, collectively known as waders, spend the winter on the coast or in the lowlands, and many return to breed on upland grassland. At the moment, driving down to my house on the edge of Nidderdale, I am regularly “dive-bombed” by a pair of frantic curlews, and surrounded by lapwings doing their “broken wing” act, trying to lure me away from young fledglings pottering around in the grass!
Follow these tips to make grassland areas on your farm more attractive to Lapwing and Curlew:
- Avoid planting trees close to areas used by waders as they will encourage predators and discourage nesting. Create suitable nesting habitat in large open fields away from tall hedges or woodland.
- Graze lightly to provide some tall tussocky vegetation through the breeding season for Curlew. Some rushes are good, but control rush levels to below 30% of the field area in small patches. Lapwing prefer a shorter sward, so graze fields used by this species well down in the autumn. Cattle grazing generally creates a better grassland structure with more insect food than sheep grazing on its own.
- Look out for and avoid nests during agricultural operations between mid-March and June. Where a series of operations is required, try to undertake them all within one week, so that failed pairs can re-nest safely, or if possible time mechanical operations before or after the breeding season.
- Curlews need around a month to incubate their eggs, with chicks fledging around 5–6 weeks after hatching. Leave corners in meadows uncut, as unfledged chicks are most likely to use these areas, and provide damp areas, wet flushes or small, shallow pools as insect-rich feeding areas.
- Late cut meadows can be particularly important for re-nesting birds.
Farming with waders..
From Phil Lyth.
As we await the announcement on the shape of the new environmental land management scheme to be introduced in January 2015, it seems likely that the number of farms which will benefit, and the amount of new funding will inevitably be lower than in the past. We have had 25 years of agri-environmental support, and in the process we have learned a lot about how best to manage farms for wildlife (and in some cases how not to!). Perhaps now we need to re-focus on the many opportunities for farm with wildlife in mind without the need for grant incentives, and the responsibility we all have to protect the environment for today and for future generations. As a farmer once said to me.. “If it’s worth doing, it’s probably worth doing without a grant!”
One of the great things about spring and early summer on upland farms is the return of Lapwing and Curlew with their iconic calls. These species, collectively known as waders, spend the winter on the coast or in the lowlands, and many return to breed on upland grassland. At the moment, driving down to my house on the edge of Nidderdale, I am regularly “dive-bombed” by a pair of frantic curlews, and surrounded by lapwings doing their “broken wing” act, trying to lure me away from young fledglings pottering around in the grass!
Follow these tips to make grassland areas on your farm more attractive to Lapwing and Curlew:
- Avoid planting trees close to areas used by waders as they will encourage predators and discourage nesting. Create suitable nesting habitat in large open fields away from tall hedges or woodland.
- Graze lightly to provide some tall tussocky vegetation through the breeding season for Curlew. Some rushes are good, but control rush levels to below 30% of the field area in small patches. Lapwing prefer a shorter sward, so graze fields used by this species well down in the autumn. Cattle grazing generally creates a better grassland structure with more insect food than sheep grazing on its own.
- Look out for and avoid nests during agricultural operations between mid-March and June. Where a series of operations is required, try to undertake them all within one week, so that failed pairs can re-nest safely, or if possible time mechanical operations before or after the breeding season.
- Curlews need around a month to incubate their eggs, with chicks fledging around 5–6 weeks after hatching. Leave corners in meadows uncut, as unfledged chicks are most likely to use these areas, and provide damp areas, wet flushes or small, shallow pools as insect-rich feeding areas.
- Late cut meadows can be particularly important for re-nesting birds.
MAY 2014
Environmental Stewardship: All Change - Again!
Ann and I recently attended a Natural England Update Meeting in York. We were hoping for clarification of the forthcoming Environmental Stewardship Schemes and how Environmental Focus Areas would fit in. Whilst the outline of the new schemes is now evident there is still a lot of consultation ongoing to get the finer details in place.
However, there are some changes which may affect you in 2015. From January 2015 all existing agreements will have the same payment start dates. All agreements will run from January to December. The total amount received for the lifetime of your agreement will be unaffected, but the timing and value of some of the payments may differ from the original schedule. 60% of Environmental Stewardship agreement holders will have an improved cash flow. 34 % will have delayed payments which may affect cash flow. Agreements which will be subject to delayed payments are those with a February – June start date from 2007 – 2014. February start dates will be the least affected with a deduction of 8% in 2015, rising to a deduction of 42% for June start dates. The full amount will be paid by the end of the agreement – it is a delay in payment not a loss.
HLS agreements in 2006 with start dates of February or August will have a slight reduction in 2015. HLS agreements in 2006 with start dates of May or November will have a higher reduction.
For the full guidance notes go to http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/qa-uniform-start-dates_tcm6-37593.pdf To find out if / how you will be affected go to the Payment Timing Tool on the Natural England website: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/payment-timing-tool_tcm6-26323.xls Alternatively give any of us a ring and we will be happy to explain if the payment alignment will affect you and by how much.
Affected agreement holders will receive a letter from Natural England later in the year detailing the exact financial implications.
NELMS – New Environmental Land Management (a working title)
From 2016 there will be a single Environmental Scheme replacing the U/O/ELS and HLS it will be integrated with the England Woodland Grant Scheme and longer term is likely to include Catchment Sensitive Farming as well.
NELMS will have an online application process. The majority of agreements will be for 5 years only. Within the one scheme there are different approaches:
• Invitation approach targeting priority sites – similar to HLS latterly.
• Self service targeting priority areas – landscape scale
• Universal small scale capital grants – open to all
There will be standard payment rates. A scoring system will replace the current points threshold.
The aim for the future is quality not quantity with a predicted scheme coverage reduction from 70% of land area down to 35 – 40% by 2020.
Top priorities are biodiversity and water management – attracting 75% of the available funding. Other priorities include landscape and climate change, as well as historic environment, education and genetic diversity.
First applications are likely to start next summer with a start date of 1st January 2016.
Woodland Grants:
There may be some grants available for 2015, depending on under-spend on existing agreements. This is likely to be announced in May.
Future woodland grants aim to: Protect, Improve and Expand.
Grants will cover: Woodland planning, woodland improvement, woodland regeneration, woodland creation and woodland infrastructure.
All applications in the future will need to have a woodland management plan in place. The Forestry Commission are encouraging owners of larger woodlands to apply for funding towards management plans now, whilst the Woodland Planning Grant is still available. Woodlands of 3ha or more are eligible for a minimum funding of £1000. The templates are available for download from the Forestry Commission website: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6DCCN3 and can be used by anyone, even if woodland is too small to be eligible for funding.
Campaign for the Farmed Environment
The CFE is continuing encouraging farmers to consider beneficial pollinating insects when planning their future Ecological Focus Areas. 5 events are planned this summer.
NVZs
From 16 May 2014 temporary field heaps must occupy as small a surface area as is practically required to support the heap and prevent it from collapsing. They must not be sited within 30m of surface water if the land is steeply sloping.
For the latest update note on NVZs go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281453/20140213-nvz-farmer-note.pdf
Environmental Stewardship: All Change - Again!
Ann and I recently attended a Natural England Update Meeting in York. We were hoping for clarification of the forthcoming Environmental Stewardship Schemes and how Environmental Focus Areas would fit in. Whilst the outline of the new schemes is now evident there is still a lot of consultation ongoing to get the finer details in place.
However, there are some changes which may affect you in 2015. From January 2015 all existing agreements will have the same payment start dates. All agreements will run from January to December. The total amount received for the lifetime of your agreement will be unaffected, but the timing and value of some of the payments may differ from the original schedule. 60% of Environmental Stewardship agreement holders will have an improved cash flow. 34 % will have delayed payments which may affect cash flow. Agreements which will be subject to delayed payments are those with a February – June start date from 2007 – 2014. February start dates will be the least affected with a deduction of 8% in 2015, rising to a deduction of 42% for June start dates. The full amount will be paid by the end of the agreement – it is a delay in payment not a loss.
HLS agreements in 2006 with start dates of February or August will have a slight reduction in 2015. HLS agreements in 2006 with start dates of May or November will have a higher reduction.
For the full guidance notes go to http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/qa-uniform-start-dates_tcm6-37593.pdf To find out if / how you will be affected go to the Payment Timing Tool on the Natural England website: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/payment-timing-tool_tcm6-26323.xls Alternatively give any of us a ring and we will be happy to explain if the payment alignment will affect you and by how much.
Affected agreement holders will receive a letter from Natural England later in the year detailing the exact financial implications.
NELMS – New Environmental Land Management (a working title)
From 2016 there will be a single Environmental Scheme replacing the U/O/ELS and HLS it will be integrated with the England Woodland Grant Scheme and longer term is likely to include Catchment Sensitive Farming as well.
NELMS will have an online application process. The majority of agreements will be for 5 years only. Within the one scheme there are different approaches:
• Invitation approach targeting priority sites – similar to HLS latterly.
• Self service targeting priority areas – landscape scale
• Universal small scale capital grants – open to all
There will be standard payment rates. A scoring system will replace the current points threshold.
The aim for the future is quality not quantity with a predicted scheme coverage reduction from 70% of land area down to 35 – 40% by 2020.
Top priorities are biodiversity and water management – attracting 75% of the available funding. Other priorities include landscape and climate change, as well as historic environment, education and genetic diversity.
First applications are likely to start next summer with a start date of 1st January 2016.
Woodland Grants:
There may be some grants available for 2015, depending on under-spend on existing agreements. This is likely to be announced in May.
Future woodland grants aim to: Protect, Improve and Expand.
Grants will cover: Woodland planning, woodland improvement, woodland regeneration, woodland creation and woodland infrastructure.
All applications in the future will need to have a woodland management plan in place. The Forestry Commission are encouraging owners of larger woodlands to apply for funding towards management plans now, whilst the Woodland Planning Grant is still available. Woodlands of 3ha or more are eligible for a minimum funding of £1000. The templates are available for download from the Forestry Commission website: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6DCCN3 and can be used by anyone, even if woodland is too small to be eligible for funding.
Campaign for the Farmed Environment
The CFE is continuing encouraging farmers to consider beneficial pollinating insects when planning their future Ecological Focus Areas. 5 events are planned this summer.
NVZs
From 16 May 2014 temporary field heaps must occupy as small a surface area as is practically required to support the heap and prevent it from collapsing. They must not be sited within 30m of surface water if the land is steeply sloping.
For the latest update note on NVZs go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281453/20140213-nvz-farmer-note.pdf
APRIL 2014
Do you use sprays? Are you ready for the Sustainable Use Directive?
From Claire Foster
There are some important changes occurring over the next two years for farmers, landowners and producers who use professional pesticides. No surprises that this is a result of a new EU Directive surrounding the safe use of pesticides, the “Sustainable Use Directive” (SUD).
Pesticides or ‘plant protection products’ include weedkillers/herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, slug pellets/molluscicides, plant growth regulators, grain store or grain insecticides and soil sterilants. The Directive does not cover the use of sprays purchased by individuals from garden centres and country stores (which are often very watered down!)
During 2014, users of professional pesticides will have to demonstrate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. This can be done by following an IPM plan. Most arable producers will already be familiar with this format from the Crop Protection Management Plans (CPMPs).
Grassland and livestock farmers are less likely to have completed an IPM plan before, however, the NFU are currently developing a plan suitable for this sector. Example plans are also available at www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk Any cultural / non-chemical control methods used on grassland should be recorded in the IPM plan, such as using resistant varieties of grass when re-seeding, topping weeds, improving soil nutrient status and improving field drainage.
From 26th November 2015, the sprayer operator on the farm must hold a Recognised Certificate. Existing certificates such as PA1, PA2 etc. meet the requirements of the Directive. Professional pesticides must not be purchased or used after this date unless the operator that is applying the product is certificated. The onus will not be on pesticide distributors to check for certification.
For those with Grandfather Rights, a new Grandfather Certificate will be available through NPTC City & Guilds - “021605 - City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides Replacing Grandfather Rights (QCF)”. The Voluntary Initiative estimate the cost of the certificate will be a few hundred pounds. Visit https://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemedetail.aspx?id=474 to find your nearest test centre.
Note: the Grandfather Certificate will only cover pesticide use on your own land, it will not allow farmers to contract spray for other farmers/landowners. If you use a contractor for spraying, it is your responsibility to check they hold a Recognised Certificate.
By 26th November 2016, application equipment must have been tested by the National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS) and hold an NSTS Certificate. Again, most arable producers will test their sprayers on an annual basis for Crop Assurance. Under SUD, testing will be required every 5 years from 2016, and every 3 years from 2020. Equipment less than 3m wide will need to be tested every 6 years. Handheld equipment will not need testing, but should be regularly checked by the operator against a checklist with a record kept.
Do you use sprays? Are you ready for the Sustainable Use Directive?
From Claire Foster
There are some important changes occurring over the next two years for farmers, landowners and producers who use professional pesticides. No surprises that this is a result of a new EU Directive surrounding the safe use of pesticides, the “Sustainable Use Directive” (SUD).
Pesticides or ‘plant protection products’ include weedkillers/herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, slug pellets/molluscicides, plant growth regulators, grain store or grain insecticides and soil sterilants. The Directive does not cover the use of sprays purchased by individuals from garden centres and country stores (which are often very watered down!)
During 2014, users of professional pesticides will have to demonstrate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. This can be done by following an IPM plan. Most arable producers will already be familiar with this format from the Crop Protection Management Plans (CPMPs).
Grassland and livestock farmers are less likely to have completed an IPM plan before, however, the NFU are currently developing a plan suitable for this sector. Example plans are also available at www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk Any cultural / non-chemical control methods used on grassland should be recorded in the IPM plan, such as using resistant varieties of grass when re-seeding, topping weeds, improving soil nutrient status and improving field drainage.
From 26th November 2015, the sprayer operator on the farm must hold a Recognised Certificate. Existing certificates such as PA1, PA2 etc. meet the requirements of the Directive. Professional pesticides must not be purchased or used after this date unless the operator that is applying the product is certificated. The onus will not be on pesticide distributors to check for certification.
For those with Grandfather Rights, a new Grandfather Certificate will be available through NPTC City & Guilds - “021605 - City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides Replacing Grandfather Rights (QCF)”. The Voluntary Initiative estimate the cost of the certificate will be a few hundred pounds. Visit https://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemedetail.aspx?id=474 to find your nearest test centre.
Note: the Grandfather Certificate will only cover pesticide use on your own land, it will not allow farmers to contract spray for other farmers/landowners. If you use a contractor for spraying, it is your responsibility to check they hold a Recognised Certificate.
By 26th November 2016, application equipment must have been tested by the National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS) and hold an NSTS Certificate. Again, most arable producers will test their sprayers on an annual basis for Crop Assurance. Under SUD, testing will be required every 5 years from 2016, and every 3 years from 2020. Equipment less than 3m wide will need to be tested every 6 years. Handheld equipment will not need testing, but should be regularly checked by the operator against a checklist with a record kept.
MARCH 2014
Our Green and Pleasant Farmland
From Ann Hanson, Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Partnership
CAP reform is still very much the issue of the moment, with “Greening” being a requirement of the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), which will replace SPS payments from 2015. Under the BPS, 30% of a farmer’s payment will depend on meeting the new “greening” rules. The requirements of “greening” will be:
- Crop diversification
- Ecological Focus Areas (EFA)
- Retention of environmentally sensitive permanent grasslands
Under crop diversification farmers with 10-30ha of arable land will have to grow 2 different crops (the main crop not covering more than 75% of the arable land), whereas farmers with more than 30ha of arable land will have to grow 3 different crops (the main crop not covering more than 75% of the arable land and the two main crops together not covering more than 95% of the arable land). Spring and winter cereals will count as different crops.
Crop diversification will not apply if:
- The area of arable land is less than 10ha.
- Where more than 75% of the eligible agricultural area is either permanent grassland or arable land used for the production of grass or other herbaceous forage, or lying fallow, as long as the remaining arable land does not exceed 30ha.
Farmers with more than 15ha of arable land will be required to have 5% Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) on their arable land. The exact nature of EFA has yet to be decided, but Defra will probably offer a range of options such as hedges, ponds, buffer strips and certain nitrogen fixing crops that contribute to improving biodiversity. EFA options will be weighted to differentiate their environmental value and coefficients may be used to convert linear measurements into areas, eg) 1m of hedge may equal 7.5m2 of EFA.
The EFA requirement will not apply if:
- The area of arable land is less than 15ha.
- Where more than 75% of the eligible agricultural area is either permanent grassland or arable land used for the production of grass or other herbaceous forage, lying fallow, or used to cultivate leguminous crops, as long as the remaining arable land does not exceed 30ha.
The protection of environmentally sensitive permanent grassland will take place at a national level and, as long as there is no more than a 5% loss in the total area of permanent grassland in England, there will be no on-farm control on the area of permanent grassland. Defra has yet to decide what sort of grassland will be designated as “environmentally sensitive”, although designated sites will be included.
As ever, this all sounds very prescriptive, but there are definitely gains to be made for farm wildlife, especially by the careful location of Ecological Focus Areas on farms and by protecting our few remaining areas of species-rich grassland.
In addition, as with ELS, a bit of thought and guidance will mean that less productive areas of the farm may contribute to “greening” and keep both the farm business and our native wildlife fit and well.
Our Green and Pleasant Farmland
From Ann Hanson, Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Partnership
CAP reform is still very much the issue of the moment, with “Greening” being a requirement of the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), which will replace SPS payments from 2015. Under the BPS, 30% of a farmer’s payment will depend on meeting the new “greening” rules. The requirements of “greening” will be:
- Crop diversification
- Ecological Focus Areas (EFA)
- Retention of environmentally sensitive permanent grasslands
Under crop diversification farmers with 10-30ha of arable land will have to grow 2 different crops (the main crop not covering more than 75% of the arable land), whereas farmers with more than 30ha of arable land will have to grow 3 different crops (the main crop not covering more than 75% of the arable land and the two main crops together not covering more than 95% of the arable land). Spring and winter cereals will count as different crops.
Crop diversification will not apply if:
- The area of arable land is less than 10ha.
- Where more than 75% of the eligible agricultural area is either permanent grassland or arable land used for the production of grass or other herbaceous forage, or lying fallow, as long as the remaining arable land does not exceed 30ha.
Farmers with more than 15ha of arable land will be required to have 5% Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) on their arable land. The exact nature of EFA has yet to be decided, but Defra will probably offer a range of options such as hedges, ponds, buffer strips and certain nitrogen fixing crops that contribute to improving biodiversity. EFA options will be weighted to differentiate their environmental value and coefficients may be used to convert linear measurements into areas, eg) 1m of hedge may equal 7.5m2 of EFA.
The EFA requirement will not apply if:
- The area of arable land is less than 15ha.
- Where more than 75% of the eligible agricultural area is either permanent grassland or arable land used for the production of grass or other herbaceous forage, lying fallow, or used to cultivate leguminous crops, as long as the remaining arable land does not exceed 30ha.
The protection of environmentally sensitive permanent grassland will take place at a national level and, as long as there is no more than a 5% loss in the total area of permanent grassland in England, there will be no on-farm control on the area of permanent grassland. Defra has yet to decide what sort of grassland will be designated as “environmentally sensitive”, although designated sites will be included.
As ever, this all sounds very prescriptive, but there are definitely gains to be made for farm wildlife, especially by the careful location of Ecological Focus Areas on farms and by protecting our few remaining areas of species-rich grassland.
In addition, as with ELS, a bit of thought and guidance will mean that less productive areas of the farm may contribute to “greening” and keep both the farm business and our native wildlife fit and well.
FEBRUARY 2014
TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL TREE ESTABLISHMENT
From Phil Lyth
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is to see the new woodlands which I have advised on over the years (and sometime even helped to plant) as they develop into attractive wildlife habitats and landscape features. I hope these tips, based on my experience, will be helpful to anyone planting this season, as well as those with recently planted trees and shrubs.
We are currently in the middle of the tree planting season, when trees and shrubs are dormant and can be transplanted most successfully. Plants are supplied by specialist nurseries as either bare-rooted transplants or cell-grown plants. My advice is to choose small plants (up to 60cm tall) with a good root system for new woodlands, as they will always survive better than expensive larger plants; and to consider using cell grown on difficult sites and with sensitive species (typically birch and blackthorn).
When planting trees into an existing grass sward, remove the turf from the planting spot so that grass and other weeds do not grow up inside the tree tubes. This can be done manually at the time of planting, or (with forward planning) using glyphosate during the growing season pre-planting to create a weed-free spot.
Avoid planting in frosty conditions and handle the plants carefully and without letting them dry out. One of the keys to successful planting is plenty of TLC!
Ensure that farm livestock are not able to access planted areas, as they will always damage trees by browsing them and knocking over tubes. Ensure that trees are far enough away from any fences to prevent the tops being browsed (generally a minimum of 2 metres).
Spot-weed to give a 0.6 - 1 metre diameter vegetation-free area around each tree. This reduces moisture stress in dry periods & has shown in Forestry Commission research to be crucial for successful tree establishment. Do not mow grass around trees as this is counter-productive and actually creates more moisture-stress! Continue weeding for at least 3-4 years until all trees are established and well out of the tubes and starting to form a canopy.
Go through your planting scheme annually, re-fixing stakes and tubes, removing any weed growth from within the tubes where it is suppressing smaller plants, and pushing the tree shelters to the ground if they have lifted so that small mammals cannot get in and cause damage.
Identify any dead plants during the growing season before the leaves fall (when it is easier to see if they are alive!) and mark the tubes for replanting in the winter.
If using glyphosate (Roundup) for weed control, remember that this is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide which is likely to kill any vegetation it comes into contact with, including trees! Glyphosate needs to be applied to actively growing vegetation to be effective. Always refer to the label when using herbicides.
Leave tree tubes on as long as possible (until they are split by the tree growth) as they will always provide some protection from rabbit/ hare damage which can be particularly severe in bad winter weather.
Contact Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Partnership for advice on species choice and layout, grant-aid, and sources of trees and guards, or for help with planting!
TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL TREE ESTABLISHMENT
From Phil Lyth
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is to see the new woodlands which I have advised on over the years (and sometime even helped to plant) as they develop into attractive wildlife habitats and landscape features. I hope these tips, based on my experience, will be helpful to anyone planting this season, as well as those with recently planted trees and shrubs.
We are currently in the middle of the tree planting season, when trees and shrubs are dormant and can be transplanted most successfully. Plants are supplied by specialist nurseries as either bare-rooted transplants or cell-grown plants. My advice is to choose small plants (up to 60cm tall) with a good root system for new woodlands, as they will always survive better than expensive larger plants; and to consider using cell grown on difficult sites and with sensitive species (typically birch and blackthorn).
When planting trees into an existing grass sward, remove the turf from the planting spot so that grass and other weeds do not grow up inside the tree tubes. This can be done manually at the time of planting, or (with forward planning) using glyphosate during the growing season pre-planting to create a weed-free spot.
Avoid planting in frosty conditions and handle the plants carefully and without letting them dry out. One of the keys to successful planting is plenty of TLC!
Ensure that farm livestock are not able to access planted areas, as they will always damage trees by browsing them and knocking over tubes. Ensure that trees are far enough away from any fences to prevent the tops being browsed (generally a minimum of 2 metres).
Spot-weed to give a 0.6 - 1 metre diameter vegetation-free area around each tree. This reduces moisture stress in dry periods & has shown in Forestry Commission research to be crucial for successful tree establishment. Do not mow grass around trees as this is counter-productive and actually creates more moisture-stress! Continue weeding for at least 3-4 years until all trees are established and well out of the tubes and starting to form a canopy.
Go through your planting scheme annually, re-fixing stakes and tubes, removing any weed growth from within the tubes where it is suppressing smaller plants, and pushing the tree shelters to the ground if they have lifted so that small mammals cannot get in and cause damage.
Identify any dead plants during the growing season before the leaves fall (when it is easier to see if they are alive!) and mark the tubes for replanting in the winter.
If using glyphosate (Roundup) for weed control, remember that this is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide which is likely to kill any vegetation it comes into contact with, including trees! Glyphosate needs to be applied to actively growing vegetation to be effective. Always refer to the label when using herbicides.
Leave tree tubes on as long as possible (until they are split by the tree growth) as they will always provide some protection from rabbit/ hare damage which can be particularly severe in bad winter weather.
Contact Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Partnership for advice on species choice and layout, grant-aid, and sources of trees and guards, or for help with planting!
JANUARY 2014
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
From Karen Stanley
We hope you have all had a Happy Christmas and life on the farm is not too frantic. The good autumn has now given way to strong winds and rain. Many soils will be waterlogged and driving round the county there are a few pools of standing water in the fields. This is a good time to update your Soil Protection Review for 2013 if you haven’t already done it. The deadline is 31st December. Next year there will be a supplementary sheet to fill in and add to your existing booklet.
If you are in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone we are in the middle of the Closed Period for spreading slurry and poultry manure. In 2013 there were some changes to the existing rules and the NVZ boundaries have changed in some areas. To check if your farm is in the NVZ go to: http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?x=357683.0&y=355134.0&scale=1&layerGroups=default&ep=map&textonly=off&lang=_e&topic=nvz
DEFRA have produced the ‘Guidance on complying with the rules for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England for 2013-2016’. It was updated in November and can be downloaded from: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261371/pb14050-nvz-guidance.pdf
Below is a summary of the main changes:
Since 17 May 2013 the following new allowances apply:
- If you use precision spreading equipment, you can now spread manure to within 6m of watercourses – see Chapter 8.
- If you operate a low intensity farm you do not need to keep certain fertilisation records – see Chapter 5.
- If you grow grass for production of chlorophyll or high protein fodder, you can now apply more nitrogen – see Chapter 7.
- You can now use compost containing up to 1,000 kg nitrogen in any four year period as a mulch in top fruit orchards – see Chapter 8.
- You can now use compost containing up to 500 kg nitrogen in any two year period either as a mulch or worked into the soil – see Chapter 8.
From Jan 2014 these new rules apply:
- If you have medium or heavy land that was designated as an NVZ in 2008 or before, the closed period for organic manures with high readily available N will be 2 weeks longer – it will continue until 31 January – see Chapter 8.
- If you grow horticultural crops, you will need to comply with the new N max values – see Chapter 7.
- When calculating N max you will need to include the nitrogen contained in all organic manures (not just livestock manures) applied to your land – see Chapter 7.
- The amount of nitrogen in pig and cattle slurry that you must assume is readily available to crops (the manure N efficiency values) has increased – see Annex 6.
- You will only be allowed to spread 30 cubic metres per hectare of slurry (rather than 50 cubic metres as before) at any one time every three weeks between the end of closed period and the end of February – see Chapter 8.
From 16 May 2014 there are changes to the rules on temporary field heaps:
- Field heaps must occupy as small a surface area as is practically required to support the heap and prevent it from collapsing. They must not be sited within 30m of surface water if the land is steeply sloping – see Chapter 10.
- The requirements for slurry storage remain the same. If your land was in an NVZ in or before 2009, then this storage should have been in place by 1 January 2012 (or 2013 in deferred slurry storage areas). If your land has been newly designated in 2013, then you must comply by autumn 2015.
- The Government has increased the Annual Investment Allowance from £25K to £250K for qualifying investment in plant and machinery for 2 years from January 2013.
Construction standards
- New, and significantly enlarged or altered slurry stores must comply with the standards set out in the SSAFO Regulations. They deal with location, design and construction, and life expectancy, so you must ensure that you or your contractor are aware of them and meet the requirements.
- You must notify the Environment Agency at least 14 days before you start to construct a new or altered store. This is a change in 2013.
- SSAFO Guidance can be obtained from Defra: (http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/waterquality/diffuse/nitrate/documents/201009ssafo-england.pdf) and the Environment Agency (http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/118798.aspx)
If you are in a Catchment Sensitive Farming Priority Area, there will be another year of the Capital Grant Scheme, although with a reduced budget which means an even more targeted approach and a change in the scoring system. If you are considering making an application in 2014 speak to your Catchment Officer first.
The CGS application window will be brought forward to 1st Feb to 31st March 2014 to enable offers to be made earlier.
Check the Natural England website for updates. It is also worth having a look at the Land Manager Update from October via http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/lmupdate-13_tcm6-36807.pdf
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
From Karen Stanley
We hope you have all had a Happy Christmas and life on the farm is not too frantic. The good autumn has now given way to strong winds and rain. Many soils will be waterlogged and driving round the county there are a few pools of standing water in the fields. This is a good time to update your Soil Protection Review for 2013 if you haven’t already done it. The deadline is 31st December. Next year there will be a supplementary sheet to fill in and add to your existing booklet.
If you are in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone we are in the middle of the Closed Period for spreading slurry and poultry manure. In 2013 there were some changes to the existing rules and the NVZ boundaries have changed in some areas. To check if your farm is in the NVZ go to: http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?x=357683.0&y=355134.0&scale=1&layerGroups=default&ep=map&textonly=off&lang=_e&topic=nvz
DEFRA have produced the ‘Guidance on complying with the rules for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England for 2013-2016’. It was updated in November and can be downloaded from: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261371/pb14050-nvz-guidance.pdf
Below is a summary of the main changes:
Since 17 May 2013 the following new allowances apply:
- If you use precision spreading equipment, you can now spread manure to within 6m of watercourses – see Chapter 8.
- If you operate a low intensity farm you do not need to keep certain fertilisation records – see Chapter 5.
- If you grow grass for production of chlorophyll or high protein fodder, you can now apply more nitrogen – see Chapter 7.
- You can now use compost containing up to 1,000 kg nitrogen in any four year period as a mulch in top fruit orchards – see Chapter 8.
- You can now use compost containing up to 500 kg nitrogen in any two year period either as a mulch or worked into the soil – see Chapter 8.
From Jan 2014 these new rules apply:
- If you have medium or heavy land that was designated as an NVZ in 2008 or before, the closed period for organic manures with high readily available N will be 2 weeks longer – it will continue until 31 January – see Chapter 8.
- If you grow horticultural crops, you will need to comply with the new N max values – see Chapter 7.
- When calculating N max you will need to include the nitrogen contained in all organic manures (not just livestock manures) applied to your land – see Chapter 7.
- The amount of nitrogen in pig and cattle slurry that you must assume is readily available to crops (the manure N efficiency values) has increased – see Annex 6.
- You will only be allowed to spread 30 cubic metres per hectare of slurry (rather than 50 cubic metres as before) at any one time every three weeks between the end of closed period and the end of February – see Chapter 8.
From 16 May 2014 there are changes to the rules on temporary field heaps:
- Field heaps must occupy as small a surface area as is practically required to support the heap and prevent it from collapsing. They must not be sited within 30m of surface water if the land is steeply sloping – see Chapter 10.
- The requirements for slurry storage remain the same. If your land was in an NVZ in or before 2009, then this storage should have been in place by 1 January 2012 (or 2013 in deferred slurry storage areas). If your land has been newly designated in 2013, then you must comply by autumn 2015.
- The Government has increased the Annual Investment Allowance from £25K to £250K for qualifying investment in plant and machinery for 2 years from January 2013.
Construction standards
- New, and significantly enlarged or altered slurry stores must comply with the standards set out in the SSAFO Regulations. They deal with location, design and construction, and life expectancy, so you must ensure that you or your contractor are aware of them and meet the requirements.
- You must notify the Environment Agency at least 14 days before you start to construct a new or altered store. This is a change in 2013.
- SSAFO Guidance can be obtained from Defra: (http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/waterquality/diffuse/nitrate/documents/201009ssafo-england.pdf) and the Environment Agency (http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/118798.aspx)
If you are in a Catchment Sensitive Farming Priority Area, there will be another year of the Capital Grant Scheme, although with a reduced budget which means an even more targeted approach and a change in the scoring system. If you are considering making an application in 2014 speak to your Catchment Officer first.
The CGS application window will be brought forward to 1st Feb to 31st March 2014 to enable offers to be made earlier.
Check the Natural England website for updates. It is also worth having a look at the Land Manager Update from October via http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/lmupdate-13_tcm6-36807.pdf
DECEMBER 2013
TOO MANY MEETINGS!
From Claire Foster
For me, rather too many days in November were spent in meetings, conferences or workshops – fortunately, these seemed to fall on wet or cold days (the relatively few that we’ve had)! It has also given me plenty to write about in this month’s e-newsletter.
The month kicked off with the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Conference, organised by the Yorkshire Dales Biodiversity Forum and Yorkshire Dales Environment Network. The conference brought together organisations involved in projects on Yorkshire Dales rivers – including water companies, government agencies, conservationists and research scientists – to focus on the management of rivers and catchments in relation to biodiversity and the new BAP priority habitat. The conference provided a well overdue opportunity to discuss and share information on current projects in the Park and surrounding areas during a networking lunch. It is hoped the event will lead to the development of practical partnerships and new river management projects.
The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Conference led nicely on to the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) “Partnerships for Action” Launch, held at Fountains Abbey on 22nd November. The Catchment Based Approach has been developed by Defra as a way of delivering improvements for the water environment through integrated local partnerships. The CaBA is developing Catchment Partnerships to work collaboratively with local stakeholders across all of England’s 83 catchments, many of these are being led by Rivers Trusts or Wildlife Trusts. The aim is to deliver improved water quality and more ambitious River Basin Management Plans that contribute to meeting targets under the European Water Framework Directive. Catchment Partnerships are currently working on Catchment Summaries, to be completed by April 2014.
Useful information and answers to questions on this new approach can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/catchment-based-approach-improving-the-quality-of-our-water-environment or www.catchmentbasedapproach.net. The CaBA was piloted on the River Ribble, so visit http://www.ribblelife.org/ to see how Catchment Partnerships will work in practice.
A few other things…
Hopefully you found time to respond to the CAP consultation, which has now closed. I attended the CAP Consultation workshop in Leeds, which had disappointingly low representation by farmers (no surprise when the chosen venue was Leeds Town Hall)! It seems Defra have made their minds up on much of the new CAP, but with enough pressure, hopefully the proposed maximum 15% modulation will not be implemented. An interesting RuSource briefing from the Penrith workshop can be read at http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/images/1878_CAP_reform_consultation.pdf.
Don’t forget to complete your Soil Protection Review by 31st December 2013.
The Forestry Commission are still accepting English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) grant applications, except for the Woodland Creation Grant and Woodland Management Grant (for access). See http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ON029EWGS-and-RDPE-Transition-V2.pdf/$FILE/ON029EWGS-and-RDPE-Transition-V2.pdf for details.
NOVEMBER 2013
LOCALISM IN FARMING AND CONSERVATION?
From Ann Hanson
Natural England would appear to be the most recent government body to promote localism, with the New Environmental Land Management Scheme (NELMS), due to replace ELS and HLS from 2016, being underpinned by local Natural England teams in charge of their own budgets and making decisions on how best to deliver environmental benefits in their local area. This localism also
applies to farmers and landowners who will be encouraged to suggest their own projects based on local targets, which, with the approval of NE and with the help of a facilitator or agent, may then be put forward as applications to the new scheme. However, NELMS will on the whole be looking for co-ordinated landscape-scale outcomes, so be prepared to work together on this one…
Biodiversity and water quality will feature highly in the new scheme in an attempt to conserve farm wildlife and tackle the objectives of the Water Framework Directive. How all of this might be achieved will hopefully become more obvious when details of the new scheme are released in 2014, with the first applications being worked up during 2015.
Meanwhile, autumn is upon us and I’ll be spending my “spare” time wearing my Yorkshire Mammal Group hat and hunting for harvest mouse nests as part of the Mammal Society’s national survey. Harvest mice are a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species which were thought to be declining in recent decades, but hopefully should have benefited from less disturbed habitats such as buffer strips, field corners and uncut ditch banks in agri-environment schemes. So, even if CAP reform means that you find yourself between schemes, I would suggest keeping your buffer strips, especially alongside ditches and watercourses, and registering them as voluntary measures to support the Campaign for the Farmed Environment - www.cfeonline.org.uk The proposed future CAP “greening measures” may well require such land management and in the meantime you’ll be keeping quite a few harvest mice (and
at least one farm adviser) very happy!
For anyone living in the North York Moors National Park, the Park Authority are administering a Traditional Boundary Grant Scheme, offering grants of up to £2,000 per financial year to land managers within the National Park for dry stone walling and hedgerow restoration/planting - www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/caring/advice-and-grants/traditional-boundary-scheme-grant. The final deadline for
applications in 2013 will be Friday 22nd November.
The Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS) - Access To Farms (ATF) is offering 2 days of training to farmers who host visits from school parties, including at Askham Bryan College, York on 11 Nov and 18 Nov. This will result in a qualification from the Open College Network (OCN), and a logo and certificate of achievement to use for promotional purposes. The course covers preparing for farm visits; food, farming and the countryside in the National Curriculum; and talking to pupils, students and teachers. www.face-online.org.uk/cevas-introduction
OCTOBER 2013
ALL CHANGE – AGAIN!
From Phil Lyth
It’s all change again in support for farming and the environment, with the reform of CAP, and the end of the current England Rural Development Plan in December this year. As of the end of August, all the agri-environment “stewardship” schemes and Forestry
Commission grants are now closed to new applications, and it’s likely that it will be 2015 before applications can be made for the proposed new “Environmental Land Management Scheme” (not necessarily the final name). Exceptions to this include upland and organic farmers, and some people with expiring Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) schemes, who may still be able to renew to Environmental Stewardship (HLS and/or ELS) in 2014. The new scheme is planned to incorporate Forestry Commission woodland grants, previously a separate scheme, and operate on a 5-year contract. It also seems likely that the proposed “greening-measures” to be introduced into CAP will replace the “broad and shallow” Entry Level Scheme. Agri-environment
support will therefore be more limited in extent and more closely targeted and there will not be the expectation for such a broad-scale coverage of the country with schemes.
For anyone with an interest in woodlands, Yorwoods have been successful in securing funding to offer subsidised or free training to woodland owners. See http://www.yorwoods.org.uk/
TOO MANY MEETINGS!
From Claire Foster
For me, rather too many days in November were spent in meetings, conferences or workshops – fortunately, these seemed to fall on wet or cold days (the relatively few that we’ve had)! It has also given me plenty to write about in this month’s e-newsletter.
The month kicked off with the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Conference, organised by the Yorkshire Dales Biodiversity Forum and Yorkshire Dales Environment Network. The conference brought together organisations involved in projects on Yorkshire Dales rivers – including water companies, government agencies, conservationists and research scientists – to focus on the management of rivers and catchments in relation to biodiversity and the new BAP priority habitat. The conference provided a well overdue opportunity to discuss and share information on current projects in the Park and surrounding areas during a networking lunch. It is hoped the event will lead to the development of practical partnerships and new river management projects.
The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Conference led nicely on to the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) “Partnerships for Action” Launch, held at Fountains Abbey on 22nd November. The Catchment Based Approach has been developed by Defra as a way of delivering improvements for the water environment through integrated local partnerships. The CaBA is developing Catchment Partnerships to work collaboratively with local stakeholders across all of England’s 83 catchments, many of these are being led by Rivers Trusts or Wildlife Trusts. The aim is to deliver improved water quality and more ambitious River Basin Management Plans that contribute to meeting targets under the European Water Framework Directive. Catchment Partnerships are currently working on Catchment Summaries, to be completed by April 2014.
Useful information and answers to questions on this new approach can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/catchment-based-approach-improving-the-quality-of-our-water-environment or www.catchmentbasedapproach.net. The CaBA was piloted on the River Ribble, so visit http://www.ribblelife.org/ to see how Catchment Partnerships will work in practice.
A few other things…
Hopefully you found time to respond to the CAP consultation, which has now closed. I attended the CAP Consultation workshop in Leeds, which had disappointingly low representation by farmers (no surprise when the chosen venue was Leeds Town Hall)! It seems Defra have made their minds up on much of the new CAP, but with enough pressure, hopefully the proposed maximum 15% modulation will not be implemented. An interesting RuSource briefing from the Penrith workshop can be read at http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/images/1878_CAP_reform_consultation.pdf.
Don’t forget to complete your Soil Protection Review by 31st December 2013.
The Forestry Commission are still accepting English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) grant applications, except for the Woodland Creation Grant and Woodland Management Grant (for access). See http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ON029EWGS-and-RDPE-Transition-V2.pdf/$FILE/ON029EWGS-and-RDPE-Transition-V2.pdf for details.
NOVEMBER 2013
LOCALISM IN FARMING AND CONSERVATION?
From Ann Hanson
Natural England would appear to be the most recent government body to promote localism, with the New Environmental Land Management Scheme (NELMS), due to replace ELS and HLS from 2016, being underpinned by local Natural England teams in charge of their own budgets and making decisions on how best to deliver environmental benefits in their local area. This localism also
applies to farmers and landowners who will be encouraged to suggest their own projects based on local targets, which, with the approval of NE and with the help of a facilitator or agent, may then be put forward as applications to the new scheme. However, NELMS will on the whole be looking for co-ordinated landscape-scale outcomes, so be prepared to work together on this one…
Biodiversity and water quality will feature highly in the new scheme in an attempt to conserve farm wildlife and tackle the objectives of the Water Framework Directive. How all of this might be achieved will hopefully become more obvious when details of the new scheme are released in 2014, with the first applications being worked up during 2015.
Meanwhile, autumn is upon us and I’ll be spending my “spare” time wearing my Yorkshire Mammal Group hat and hunting for harvest mouse nests as part of the Mammal Society’s national survey. Harvest mice are a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species which were thought to be declining in recent decades, but hopefully should have benefited from less disturbed habitats such as buffer strips, field corners and uncut ditch banks in agri-environment schemes. So, even if CAP reform means that you find yourself between schemes, I would suggest keeping your buffer strips, especially alongside ditches and watercourses, and registering them as voluntary measures to support the Campaign for the Farmed Environment - www.cfeonline.org.uk The proposed future CAP “greening measures” may well require such land management and in the meantime you’ll be keeping quite a few harvest mice (and
at least one farm adviser) very happy!
For anyone living in the North York Moors National Park, the Park Authority are administering a Traditional Boundary Grant Scheme, offering grants of up to £2,000 per financial year to land managers within the National Park for dry stone walling and hedgerow restoration/planting - www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/caring/advice-and-grants/traditional-boundary-scheme-grant. The final deadline for
applications in 2013 will be Friday 22nd November.
The Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS) - Access To Farms (ATF) is offering 2 days of training to farmers who host visits from school parties, including at Askham Bryan College, York on 11 Nov and 18 Nov. This will result in a qualification from the Open College Network (OCN), and a logo and certificate of achievement to use for promotional purposes. The course covers preparing for farm visits; food, farming and the countryside in the National Curriculum; and talking to pupils, students and teachers. www.face-online.org.uk/cevas-introduction
OCTOBER 2013
ALL CHANGE – AGAIN!
From Phil Lyth
It’s all change again in support for farming and the environment, with the reform of CAP, and the end of the current England Rural Development Plan in December this year. As of the end of August, all the agri-environment “stewardship” schemes and Forestry
Commission grants are now closed to new applications, and it’s likely that it will be 2015 before applications can be made for the proposed new “Environmental Land Management Scheme” (not necessarily the final name). Exceptions to this include upland and organic farmers, and some people with expiring Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) schemes, who may still be able to renew to Environmental Stewardship (HLS and/or ELS) in 2014. The new scheme is planned to incorporate Forestry Commission woodland grants, previously a separate scheme, and operate on a 5-year contract. It also seems likely that the proposed “greening-measures” to be introduced into CAP will replace the “broad and shallow” Entry Level Scheme. Agri-environment
support will therefore be more limited in extent and more closely targeted and there will not be the expectation for such a broad-scale coverage of the country with schemes.
For anyone with an interest in woodlands, Yorwoods have been successful in securing funding to offer subsidised or free training to woodland owners. See http://www.yorwoods.org.uk/
