Option 14 - Management of Grass Margins and Beetlebanks in Arable Fields
What this is about
This option will encourage the establishment (where none currently exist) and management of grass strips in or around arable fields to benefit biodiversity and/or water quality.
What this will achieve
This option aims to manage a grass strip along the boundary of, or across an arable field. Grass strips can serve a dual purpose - supporting wildlife and/or reducing soil erosion.
Insects over-winter in the grass strips. Beneficial insects can include crop pollinators, and insects to control crop pests. Temporary grass margins can also support rare arable plants and provide food and cover for birds and small mammals.
Cross-field strips on sloping fields will help to reduce the risk of erosion and soil and nutrient run-off. Slower surface-water flow rates can also help to reduce flooding downstream.
BAP species that may benefit include Grey Partridge, Linnet, Bullfinch, Spotted Flycatcher, Corn Bunting, Purple Ramping-Fumitory and Cornflower.
What you must do 
Either
1. establish and manage a grass strip by sowing a suitable mix of grass seed, including at least one species of nectar-feeding plant such as red clover into a sterile seedbed;
- use a diffuse pollution audit to identify suitable locations for grass strips intended to prevent or minimise soil erosion or nutrient losses to nearby watercourses and lochs. The diffuse pollution audit must be carried out by the start of the 5-year agreement.
- use an environmental audit to identify suitable locations for beetle banks. The environmental audit must be carried out by the start of the 5-year agreement.
or
2. manage a grass strip established under a previous agri-environment scheme and if not already present in the sward, sow at least one species of nectar-feeding plant such as red clover.
For both options:
- manage a strip between 1.5m and 6m in width in an arable field
- where you intend to benefit Hen Harriers, Corn Buntings, Barn Owls or Kestrels, we recommend the strip is at least 3m wide
- when you do not plan to sow the entire field to an arable crop, the minimum width of the arable area adjacent to the grass strip must be 30m
- do not apply fertiliser, slurry or farmyard manure to the strips
- scrub control is not allowed except with the prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers
- pesticides must not be applied to the site except with the prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers for activities such as spot treatment of injurious weeds (common ragwort, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock or broadleaved dock) or control of non-native invasive species (e.g. giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, rhododendron ponticum and Japanese knotweed)
- you will not be eligible for any additional payment to control scrub, weeds or non-native invasive species
- you can graze or top the grass margin or beetlebank after harvest, provided the average height of vegetation in the strip is not taken below 100 mm
- any area adjacent to the grass margins or beetlebanks must remain in an arable crop, such as cereals, linseeds, oilseed, root crops, fruit crops or protein crops, including vining peas, for the duration of the agreement, to obtain full conservation benefit from this option. In a mixed arable situation where an area will be put into grass or other non-eligible crop after 3 years, you can transfer the beetlebank/margin to another eligible field for the remaining 2 years of the agreement. In this situation, a beetlebank/grass margin may only be relocated once during the 5-year agreement. On organic farms, where the normal rotation is a 2 year cycle, you can transfer the beetlebank/margin twice during the agreement period to ensure that the area is in an eligible crop.
Who can apply
All land managers are eligible to apply for this option.
How to apply
Complete Section 3 of the LMO application form and columns L and M of your SAF Data Sheet using the following codes. The code required for establishment and management of a grass strip is LMOGMB and for management only the code is LMOGME.
Eligibility criteria
Land receiving payments for similar management under other agri-environment schemes is not eligible under this option.
Rate of support
This is a 5 year commitment. We will pay at the end of each year. We will pay:
- establishment and management of a grass strip - £473.76 per hectare per year
- management of a grass strip - £407.92 per hectare per year.
Inspections/Verification
The inspector will check the requirements of the option are being met (as detailed above under 'What you must do') by a visual assessment on the day of inspection.
You must comply with the requirements of cross compliance and the minimum requirements for fertiliser and plant protection products and you must avoid damaging or destroying any historic or archaeological features or areas.