Greening Update FAS Webinar 31 st October Simon Lunniss, RPA

Transcription

1 Greening Update FAS Webinar 31 st October 2014 Simon Lunniss, RPA

2 Greening reminder of the basics Three requirements: Maintaining permanent pasture; Crop diversification; Ecological Focus Areas. Based on agricultural area of holding (arable crops; permanent grassland & permanent crops) and the area of arable crops (crops; temporary grassland; fallow). Calculated over whole area of holding, paid as part of BPS on activated area. Compulsory 30% of payment at risk if the farmer doesn t comply. 2

3 Greening - clarifications Permanent grassland NE consent required before ploughing semi-natural grassland or permanent pasture not cultivated for 15 years or more. Organic exemption organic land can qualify automatically for greening payment, but won t count towards crop diversification or EFA. Farmers can opt to include the land in their greening calculations and not benefit from the exemption. 3

4 Greening time line 6

5 Crop diversification Minimum plot size confirmed as 0.01 ha. May to June inspection period inspectors will accept stubble and crop residues as evidence of early harvested crops. Still talking to Commission about crop failures and crops not drilled at time of inspection. Spring and winter varieties - look at EU common catalogue for definitive list of spring and winter varieties. Spring and winter brassicas will count as separate crops, but list still being agreed with industry. New crop list published on GOV.UK (wwwgov.uk/capreform). Additional crops (different botanical genera) can be added by notifying RPA. 7

6 Using a hedge for EFA Following cross-compliance definition of a hedge (Hedgerow regulations 1997): Row of bushes and shrubs, minimum 20m length, or less where it meets another hedgerow at each end. Gaps up to 20m allowed, including gateways. No rules on width or height. Newly planted hedges can be included so long as they are in the ground at the time of application. Hedges on banks are eligible. Farmers must follow cross-compliance rules and meet any ELS/HLS management requirements. 8

7 Using a hedge for EFA (2) To count for EFA, the hedge must be on/next to arable land. Longest edge must touch arable land on at least one side, but can be separated from it by fence or BPS eligible feature. Claim 10m 2 /linear metre where: Farmer has arable land at his disposal on both sides of the hedge. Farmer is responsible for both sides of the hedge, with arable land at their disposal on one side and permanent grassland, permanent crops or non-agricultural land (e.g. woodland or road) on the other. Claim 5m 2 /linear metre where: Farmer is responsible for one side of hedge only and has arable land at their disposal on that side of the hedge. 9

8 Using a buffer strip for EFA Buffer strips count 9m 2 per linear metre towards EFA. Must be next to a watercourse (can have strips on both sides) or parallel with, and on a slope leading down to, a watercourse within the same land parcel. Can have one of each in same parcel. Minimum of 1m wide, measured from top of the bank into the field, or edge to edge for an infield buffer strip. Wider strips can be counted partly as fallow, but the two parts must be distinguishable. No production, but grazing and cutting allowed. Wild bird seed mixes & nectar sources can be sown on parallel strips. 10

9 Using a buffer strip for EFA (2) Buffer strip can t be separated from watercourse by manmade or landscape feature, apart from a fence In-field buffer strip must have eligible arable crops on either side, be distinguishable from them and sited to influence run-off. 11

10 Using fallow land for EFA 1 ha of fallow land counts as 1 ha for EFA. Minimum width of 2m and minimum area of 0.01ha. No crop production or grazing. Must be kept suitable for grazing or cultivation. Can t be used as storage area. Temporary grassland can be used as fallow. Grass and un-harvestable mixes of wild bird seed can be sown during fallow period. Herbicides can be applied and fallow land can be cultivated for weed control. Drainage work can be carried out. No restriction on use outside fallow period, but wild bird seed mixes can t be harvested or grazed. 12

11 Using catch and cover crops for EFA 1 ha of catch or cover crops counts as 0.3ha towards EFA. Minimum 0.01 ha. Sown mix of at least 2 cover types one cereal and one non-cereal Rye, Vetch, Phacelia, Barley, Mustard, Oats & Lucerne. Can also count grass if undersown in the previous crop Aim is to protect soil from erosion and use available nutrients between harvest and sowing of next crop. Once cover/catch crop is destroyed, farmers should avoid grazing and establish next crop quickly. 13

12 Double-funding Affects Entry Level Stewardship (ELS), Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) and Uplands ELS agreements which started on 1st January 2012 or later. Natural England has written to affected agreement holders setting out the choices available : accept the reduced payment; Substitute un-affected options to contribute towards your 30 points per ha threshold and avoid any reduction in payment; exit the scheme without penalty or recovery of payments. Customers have until the 15th November to reply. 14

13 Dual-use Dual-use continues for all existing Environmental Stewardship agreements, including any still to be signed in Written record required of agreement between parties. Where a tenancy agreement exists, tenant should claim BPS (has land at their disposal) and include land in their greening calculations. Position for new environmental land management scheme to be confirmed. 15

14 Farming Advice Service CAP Greening October 2014

15 AGENDA Greening Overview Click to edit Crop Master Diversification title style Rules Key Issues and Actions Farm Examples Ecological Focus Areas (EFA s) Key Issues and Actions EFA Land Types Farm Examples Further Information

16 CAP REFORM GREENING OVERVIEW - 1 Three basic Greening rules to be followed for 30% of BPS; 1. Crop diversification 2. Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) Click to 3. edit Protection Master of title Permanent style Grassland - in England the percentage of permanent grassland, compared to the agricultural area, must not fall by more than 5%. Therefore this is not a farm level rule. Currently no restriction on ploughing out PG but watch EIA rules. Organic land is exempt from Greening (still gets payment) - for mixed holdings organic / conventional portions split - claimants can chose not to use organic exemption

17 CAP REFORM GREENING OVERVIEW - 2 It is a yearly test things change within businesses(!) Applies across the whole BPS holding (eligible area) - multiple farms everything entered onto one form Click to edit - UK Master test (cross title border stylefarms) Non-compliance results in penalties - proportional - depending on shortfall against requirement - intentional non-compliance still unclear complete loss? Any land in agri-environment agreement can count towards greening - payment reductions for ELS agreements after 1 st Jan 2012 Arable land on the holding is the driver of crop diversification and EFA requirement - understanding this definition is key temp grass and fallow

18 CROP DIVERSIFICATION (CD) KEY ISSUES / PROCESS Calculate your area of arable land What CD band are you in? <10 Ha; Ha; >30 Ha - >30 Ha third crop does not have to be 5% of arable area all Click to edit crops Master apart title from style 2 largest have to be 5% What cropping are you going to have in 2015? - during the cropping period 1 st May to 30 th June 2015 How many crops do you have? - remember fallow and temporary grass are both crops - spring and winter varieties are separate (whenever planted) Do you qualify under one of the exemptions? - those with a large proportion of grass (75%) - new land, new crop rule Do you need to make cropping changes in spring 2015?

19 CROP DIVERSIFICATION RULES ON-FARM EXAMPLE 1 Combinable crop farm. Total eligible area 170 Ha (420 acres) Click to Cropping edit Master (2015 title est.) style Ha Winter Wheat 104 Winter OSR 52 Potatoes (let out) 10 Game Covers / Fallow 4 Outcome Requirement Arable land = 170 Ha 10 Ha = 160 Ha, > 30 Ha 3 crops required WW, WOSR & GC, But, WW & WOSR >95% of arable area Options? Potatoes on cropping licence Spring wheat variety (winter planted?) Other third crop (beans?) Increase fallow/gc area (min. 160 x 5% = 8 Ha)

20 CROP DIVERSIFICATION RULES ON-FARM EXAMPLE 2 Large dairy farm, 150 Ha (280 cows plus followers) growing maize. Cropping (2015 est.) Click to edit Master title style Outcome Ha Temporary Grass (TG) 89 Permanent Pasture 27 Maize 32 Kale 2 Requirement Maize, TG & kale, But maize & TG >95% of arable area Exemptions? Over 75% of eligible area is in grass ( = 77%), But remaining arable land > 30 Ha Options? Reduce maize/kale below 30 Ha Arable land = = 123 Ha, > 30 Ha 3 crops required Increase third crop area (min. 123 x 5% = 6.2 Ha)

21 CROP DIVERSIFICATION RULES ON-FARM EXAMPLE Ha home farm. Plus 136 Ha contract farmed (claim by owners) Land let out for potatoes and pigs Click to Cropping edit Master (2015 title est.) style Ha Winter Wheat 467 Winter OSR 202 Winter Barley 125 Spring Beans 54 Potatoes (let out) 58 Outdoor Pigs (let out) 18 Requirement Arable land = 924 Ha 58 (pots) 18 (pigs) = 848 Ha claim, > 30 Ha 3 crops required Outcome 4 crops already present (WW, WOSR, WB, SB), two main crops under 95% of total

22 CROP DIVERSIFICATION RULES ON-FARM EXAMPLE 3 Continued Contract Farming 136 Ha total - one of 57 Ha, one of 79 Ha, separate claimants > 30 Ha 3 crops required, BUT, currently block-cropped, only one crop per year Click to edit Master title style Options? Contractor mixes cropping; land swaps (risky?), FBT? Let Potato Land Pure potato business 58 Ha on this farm Ha elsewhere = 179 Ha. > 30 Ha 3 crops required, BUT, only one Options? New land, New crop exemption likely Let Pig Land 18 Ha > 10 Ha 2 crops required, BUT, only one Options? Will be deemed as temporary grassland so grassland exemption will apply

23 ECOLOGICAL FOCUS AREAS (EFA) KEY ISSUES / PROCESS More than 15 Ha of arable land? - area equivalent to 5% must be EFA Do you qualify under one of the exemptions? Click to edit - those Master with a title large style proportion of grass or leguminous crops (75%) Understand the 5 EFA eligible land types for fallow; 2. hedges; 3. buffer strips; 4. green cover / catch crops 5. nitrogen-fixing crops What have you got already? - eligible features must be sited on or adjacent to arable land - remember weighting factors What do you want to use? - use of hedges may delay payment What can be created most effectively? Do you need to make cropping changes in spring 2015?

24 ECOLOGICAL FOCUS AREA FALLOW & BUFFER STRIPS Fallow must be in place from 1 st Jan to 30 th June - temporary grass can count as fallow (but no production until 1/7) - crop diversification fallow only 1 st May 30 th June Click to edit Management Master title rules style are light touch - planting of wild bird cover, nectar mix and grass(?) allowed - spraying (blackgrass control) possible 1m 2 of fallow = 1m 2 of EFA Buffer strips must be next to a watercourse (not only ditches) - minimum 1m width so cross-compliance margins count - buffer and fallow on wide margins - remember, must be on arable land (perm grass margins?) Management rules are light touch 1m run of buffer = 9m 2 of EFA (regardless of actual width)

25 ECOLOGICAL FOCUS AREAS HEDGES 1 st question do you want to use them? delayed payment Minimum length 20m (gaps up to 20m allowed) Hedge must be on, or adjacent to arable land - Click to edit Master title style Arable Hedge P Grass P Grass Hedge P Grass Ditch Arable Hedge P Grass If responsible for both side can count the whole hedge - even if one side is P Grass or a road If responsible for one side only count half of hedge 1m run of hedge = 10m 2 of EFA (regardless of actual hedge width)

26 ECOLOGICAL FOCUS AREA COVER, CATCH & N-FIXING CROPS Catch Crops must be in place from 31 st August to 1 st October in scheme year Cover crops must be in place from 1 st October in scheme Click to edit year Master to 15 th January title style Mix of rye, vetch, phacelia, barley, mustard, oats, lucerne 1m 2 of these crops = 0.3m 2 of EFA Allows mistakes in EFA areas to be corrected Nitrogen fixing crops in place from 1 st May to 30 th June - beans, peas, chickpeas, fenugreek, lentils, lupins, peas, soyabeans, clover, lucerne, sainfoin, trefoil (not in grass mixes) - no requirement for low or no inputs 1m 2 of these crops = 0.7m 2 of EFA

27 EFA RULES ON-FARM EXAMPLE 1 Combinable crop farm. Total eligible area 170 Ha (420 acres). Total arable area 160 Ha Click to edit Master title style Existing EFA Features Hedges (all arable adjacent) 8,125m Ditches (all arable adjacent) 4,450m Fallow Outcome Hedges = 4 Ha 8.13 Ha Buffer Strips (next to ditches) = 4.01 Ha Fallow land = 4.00 Ha Ha Requirement 160 Ha x 5% = 8 Ha EFA Can meet requirement without using hedges. But very close some insurance EFA?

28 EFA RULES ON-FARM EXAMPLE 2 Large dairy farm, 150 Ha (280 cows plus followers) growing maize. Existing EFA Features Click to edit Master title style Hedges (70% arable adjacent) 10,508m Ditches (65% arable adjacent) 4,910m 6m ELS Field Margins 2,100m Outcome Hedges = 7.36 Ha Buffer Strips (next to ditches) = 2.87 Ha Margins (1m of width used as buffer strips above, remaining 5m width counted as fallow) = 1.05 Ha Ha Requirement 123 Ha x 5% = 6.15 Ha But, relies on hedges late payment? Alternative EFA?

29 EFA RULES ON-FARM EXAMPLE Ha home farm. Existing EFA Features Hedges (all arable adjacent) 44,210m Click to edit Master title style Ditches (all arable adjacent) 15,450m 4m ELS Field Margins 31,150m Requirement Spring Beans 54 Ha 848 Ha x 5% = Ha Outcome Hedges = Ha Buffer Strips (next to the ditches) = Ha Margins* (3m not used as buffer strips) = 9.35 Ha Nitrogen-fixing crops Ha Ha

30 CAP REFORM ~ GREENING SUMMARY Many (most) farms will face little change in cropping - but a complex set of calculations to prove / know this Need to fully understand the (latest) rules they evolve Click to edit A yearly Master test title calculation style will change every year There are management choices to be made - especially around use of hedges and late payment weighing of options Possible compliance / cropping problems for - contract farming agreements - those with very simple (wheat/rape) rotations - larger grassland farmers with >30 Ha of arable - farming areas with few features such as hedges or ditches Complex but there are solutions to most problems

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32 Why is CFE important? Regulatory threats: including CAP modulation EFA on 7% of arable area Smaller range of EFAs National Certification Scheme Business benefits: including Benefits of fallow Protecting watercourses Weed suppression Improve soil structure Encouraging pollinators

33 What is CFE asking you to do? Enhance your EFA Retain land managed for the environment

34 How CFE can help.

35 FURTHER INFORMATION AND UPDATES Click to edit Master title style Updates expected later in the year, mainly online: GOV.UK site Farming Advice Service updates Farming Advice Service helpline: