GREENING Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) on arable land
Where arable land is more than 15 hectares, applicants must manage at least 5% of their arable area as an EFA. There are five different options to choose from which can be mixed and matched to make up to 5%, but they must feature on or next to arable land. Each option has different weightings (according to the perceived environmental benefit) and different management obligations. COVER CROPS • Cover crops must be established by the 1 st October and retained until at least the 15 th January. • The crop must contain 1 cereal & 1 non-cereal of Rye, Oats, Barley, Phacelia, Mustard, Vetch, Lucerne or Oilseed Radish. • 1m Length = 0.3m 2 of EFA. • Catch crops must be established by the 31 th August and retained until at least the 1 st October. • The crop must contain 1 cereal & 1 non-cereal of Rye, Oats, Barley, Phacelia, Mustard, Vetch, Lucerne or Oilseed Radish. • 1m Length = 9m 2 of EFA. • Must be next to or run parallel with a water course or on a slope leading to a water course. • Minimum width of 1 metre wide edge to edge. • Must run next to arable land (or within 5 metres) and on the arable side of the watercourse. • 1m Length = 9m 2 of EFA. • Eligible leguminous crops are as follows; Vetch, Beans, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Chick Pea, Clover, Fenugreek, Lentils, Lucerne, Lupins, Peas, Sainfoin, Soya and Sweet Clover. Legumes with grass cannot be counted. • The crop must be in the ground between the 1 st May – 30 th June. CATCH CROPS BUFFER STRIPS NITROGEN FIXING CROPS • Fallow Period is from 1 st January to 30 th June. • Wild bird mixtures, Nectar rich mixtures, temporary grass & buffer strips can be managed as fallow. • Grass can be sown during the fallow period as long as there is no production during this period. Fallow land can be mown as long as the cuttings are left on the land however, grass can be utilised after the period. • Minimum width of 2 metres wide with a minimum area of 0.01ha. • 1m Length = 1m 2 of EFA. (Source: DEFRA, 2016) FALLOW LAND • Minimum plot size 0.01ha. • 1m Length = 0.7m 2 of EFA.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online