ELMs Update Meeting Report
Our December Meeting focused on the experiences of the group with the new Environmental Land management Schemes (ELMs). The meeting took the form of a discussion to optimize the knowledge exchange among members of the group in how best to tackle the continually evolving Agri-environment schemes. The discussion revealed a number of key points, some encouraged must dos and some warnings and don’ts. A summary of the key takeaways is below.
AB15 (2-year Sown Legume Fallow)
As a rotational option many members saw AB15 as a win-win option, using it as a break crop before putting the chosen parcel back into the farm rotation, where it would produce a higher yield. For many, this could be achieved and one could also benefit from £593/ha/year, for choosing this option. Despite this, some members have warned that it isn’t as appealing as it might first appear, arguing that the maintenance required to control blackgrass through cutting can outweigh the lucrativeness of the payment rate. Under SFI, AB15 has become CNUM3, Legume fallow and has the same payment rate of £593/ha/year so this is something to think about when deciding if its worth choosing as an option.
With many members of the group in horticulture, there were many suggestions being made as to how to make SFI work for their business. Some exciting suggestions were made in how to make the most of variable rate and precision spraying options by using other available grants to fund the purchase of equipment needed to carry out those options, such as the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund It is important to note however that FETF is currently closed to new applicants. If you already have the appropriate equipment, those payment rates could help pay for management you may already be doing anyway.
Supplemental actions
Members also shared their positive experience with applying supplemental actions to base actions such as low input grassland (CLIG3). For many this is another way to be paid for activity you maybe doing anyway such as haymaking (GRH7/8) and cattle grazing (GRH11). The haymaking supplement is made of two tiers meaning you can access a higher payment rate if you wait 9 months before harvesting the hay crop. The previous 2 actions are also stackable meaning you can go from a CLIG3 payment rate of £151/ha/year to a combination of CLIG3,GRH7/8 and GRH11 at a payment rate of £367 or £397/ha/year. Specific attention was given to the use of native breeds at risk (SPM2/3). This also has two tiers of payment rates depending on proportion of native breeds within a herd and can increase payment/ ha by £92 (50-80% native) or £146 (more than 80% native). The list of native breeds is currently very broad allowing many people to access the option who may have thought they weren’t eligible. To see the full list of supplemental actions go here and to see the list of native breeds at risk go here.
Combining CIPM2 (Flower-rich Grass margins, blocks and in-field strips) with Horticulture
The Discussion turned to the benefits of trying you integrate flower rich strips between rows of fruit trees. There was hesitation around this action due to weeds outcompeting other species especially in the wet conditions characteristic of the wale. Furthermore, after accounting for space for the sprayer to track through the strip, it was argued that the area left would be so minimal, it affected the appeal of what at first sight looks like quite a lucrative payment rate. Instead other members suggested companion cropping (CIPM3) as the RPA guidance is very flexible on what could be considered a companion crop and how it had to be managed.
Many More Suggestions
Given the complexity of ELMs, the discussion could go on and on as to how best to approach the schemes. Here are a few quick takeaways to consider when applying for the schemes.
- Endorsed options are important to consider when weighing up the benefit between SFI and higher tier as they help bridge the gap between the two schemes compared to the old countryside stewardship structure and may make SFI appear as a more flexible offering
- It is important to note that despite some actions being incompatible with historic features, you can still carry out those actions on areas of the field that don’t overlap with said historic features.
- 10 actions are classified as “limited area actions” where the heritage cannot make up more than 25% of the farm. These can be found here (Section 1.3 of the guidance)