Making the most of Countryside Stewardship schemes

“For many species arable land is the only potential source of help. The species cannot move elsewhere as there is no other suitable habitat.”

He explains the Farm Wildlife package has been designed to provide pollen and nectar sources and nesting places, so farmers can provide the right amount of habitat for pollinators where it is most needed.

“Some of our most effective small pollinators will only travel up to 250 metres in a single trip. So it is vital to locate blocks of up to 0.5 hectares of suitable pollen and nectar or bumblebird mixes at regular intervals across the farm so these species are adequately catered for,” he adds.

Research conducted by Agrii demonstrates it should be possible for most arable farmers to find enough marginal land to achieve the required 3 per cent minimum of options on their farms.

See also: Managing conservation practically and profitably together

Mr Green says: “The payment for the option covers the cost of the seed, establishing and managing the option and the value of the crop foregone based on a yield of 8.5 tonnes/ha.

“There are parts of the farm which will never make money and here the scheme could provide more income than would be gained by farming these areas and create much needed habitat for wildlife.”

Mr Green says Mid Tier should not be thought of as a ‘free ride’ because Natural England expects farmers to grow the options as they would grow a crop, ‘to produce the best habitat possible’.

He admits many farmers were put off CS in the first year because of the short application window, incomplete guidance and a fear of inspections.

“We have listened to farmers and made a number of improvements. The application window has opened three months earlier and we have introduced new farmer-friendly guidance. Although records still need to be kept, it is now proportionate and not much more onerous than for ELS.”

Mr Green encourages all farmers to consider applying for CS this year, stressing it is the ‘right option, at the right scale, in the right place, and with the right management’ which makes for a successful scheme.

Barney Parker, an independent farm environment adviser, agrees with Mr Green’s advice but urges farmers to consider a few key questions before deciding to apply.

He says: “The value of the scheme you are applying for should balance with the inspection risk.

“Farmers with Sites of Special Scientific Interest or Scheduled Ancient Monuments on their land should be aware they will potentially be required to bring them into positive management as part of their agreement.

Where farmers are not able to commit to the threshold areas of the Farm Wildlife package options, Mr Parker recommends they establish as many of these options as they can because each option tends to score highly in its own right.

And he urges farmers to view CS as a means of tackling common issues on arable farms such as black-grass.

“The AB15 two-year-sown legume fallow is a rotational option which pays farmers to establish a temporary grass ley containing rye-grass and cocksfoot in dry conditions with legumes including red clover, vetches and trefoils. It is grown on one site for two years and then moved to another for the remaining two years of the agreement.

“Farmers can cut the sward as often as they want in the first year to control the black-grass, but in year two they may cut once in March before allowing the legumes to flower.”

However, Mr Parker is concerned two years may not be enough time to eliminate black-grass and some growers may find themselves applying for a derogation to prevent black-grass setting seed.

He also urges farmers to maintain margins next to ditches, streams and hedges in their agreement to help them comply with aquatic and arthropod buffer zones.

“Most farmers are familiar with LERAP requirements but arthropod buffer zones are now mandatory for some pesticides when used on certain crops. If CS margins are retained against hedges, ditches and watercourses this will assist farmers in meeting these obligations.”

CS applicants will learn if their application is successful in November this year and agreements will be sent out in time for the start date of January 1, 2017. Mr Parker recommends farmers keep copies of all application forms, maps and supporting evidence.

“The maps sent out with agreements are unclear, so farmers should photocopy the maps sent with their application and retain these so they know which options have been placed on individual field parcels,” he adds.