Introduction
This Option aims to increase the conservation value of arable land and increase numbers of associated bird species.
What this will achieve
This Option will increase the conservation value of arable land by encouraging traditional crop rotations to provide cover and feeding areas for birds. Spring cropping and low input management will support wildflowers and provide invertebrate food for birds. The structure of a spring crop is also favourable to ground nesting birds.
BAP species that may benefit include Brown Hare, Skylark, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow and Cornflower.
What you can do
Requirements
- Sow plots of spring cereals, fodder root crops or fodder rape each up to 2 hectares; their total area must not exceed 4 hectares over the whole unit. Your business may farm more than one production unit (or 'farm') within Scotland. Where that is the case, this 4 hectare limit applies to each farm within your business.
- Each plot must be a discrete area and, if you have more than one plot, there must be a visible separation between each plot. This 'separation' might constitute a fence, hedge or dyke or a strip of uncultivated land. To ensure that the separation between the plots remains visible when the crops within these plots are mature, the plots should either be separated by a boundary feature or there should be a minimum distance between individual plot of, we suggest, 2 metres.
- Only undertake cultivations and spread fertiliser between 1 March and 15 May inclusive. Exceptionally, for fodder rape or root crops, cultivations may be carried out after 15 May. Any nests that you locate must be marked and avoided
- Do not apply herbicides and insecticides without prior written agreement of Scottish Ministers. Normally, this consent will only be given to allow spot-treatment or the weed wiping of scheduled weeds (Creeping, Spear or Field thistle, Curled or Broadleaved Dock, and Common Ragwort) or invasive non-native species (Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, Rhododendron Ponticum and Japanese Knotweed)
- After cropping, you must not plough or cultivate the area before 1 March of the following year
- You can include any cropping rotation and crops that are, or have been, 'traditional' to the area. For example, it is now common practice to grow daffodils in the south of the Grampian area and therefore daffodil production may legitimately be considered 'traditional' to that area.
Arable silage is not an eligible crop for this Option for the following reasons. It is unsuitable for some bird species because its stems are closer together and it is a denser crop. Birds will be deprived of cover much earlier in the year. It does not provide autumn 'stubbles' or a residual crop to act as a source of food in the autumn and winter.
A supplement will be paid where a cereal crop is harvested by a binder and the stooks gathered into stacks.
The controlled grazing of fodder rape and post-harvest grazing of cereals stubbles will increase the availability of a food supply to over-wintering birds: ground disturbance uncovering more seeds and fallen grain and dunging supporting increased numbers of invertebrates. The grazing regime you adopt for areas being managed under this option must be such that the aim of this option, to provide cover and feeding areas for birds, is not frustrated.
You must maintain a similar area of cropped land in each year of the plan, although minor adjustments to this area can be made to allow for differences in field sizes. Your application must identify the fields in the biodiversity rotation and the area of biodiversity crop that each will contain.
Who can apply
All land managers are eligible to apply for this Option.
Eligibility criteria
This Option is available on in-bye land throughout Scotland.
Land receiving payments for similar management under other agri-environment schemes is not eligible under this Option.
Please see the Definitions of Land Types page for more details.
Rate of support
This is a 5 year commitment. We will pay at the end of each year.
Payment rate £70.94 per hectare per year.
Payment rate where cereal crop is harvested by binder and stooks gathered into stacks £400 per hectare per year.
Inspections/verification
The inspector will check the requirements (as detailed above under 'what you can do') of the Option are being met, by a visual assessment on the day of inspection.
Beneficiaries must comply with the requirements of cross compliance and the minimum requirements for fertiliser and plant protection products. You must also comply with the requirements to avoid damaging any features of historic or archaeological interest, and follow Scottish Ministers' guidance for the protection of such areas or features (detailed in links below).
The following is a brief overview of the inspection procedures, for a full explanation please see links below:
Inspectors will check:
- Plot sizes do not exceed 2 hectares and total area claimed on holding does not exceed 4 hectares
- Check crop claimed is not arable silage
- No evidence of cultivations outwith the 1 March to 15 May period
- Land has not been cultivated between harvest and 1 March the following year
- Evidence of binder/stooks if supplement claimed
- Pesticide records to ensure herbicides and insecticides have not been applied to the site without prior written approval from Scottish Ministers.
List of links to relevant technical guidance
Minimum requirements for Fertiliser and Plant Protection Products - detailed guidance
Minimum requirements for protection of historic or archaeological features
'On the spot' inspections - overview of the inspection procedure