Dartmoor ESA
- Aims and objectives
- Background to the ESA
- Tier 1A All land
- Tier 1B Improved permanent grassland
- Tier 1C - Low-input permanent grassland
- Tier 1D - Unimproved pasture and enclosed rough ground
- Winter livestock removal supplement
- Tier 1E - Moorland
- Early winter stocking level supplement
- Winter cattle removal supplement
- Summer purple moor-grass grazing supplement
- Tier 2A - Species rich hay meadows
- New Tier 2B - Moorland enhancement
- Winter livestock removal supplement
- Summer purple moor-grass grazing supplement
- Tier 2 C - Moorland re-creation
- Traditional hedgerow management supplement
- Woodland tier
- Stone walls and banks supplement
Aims and objectives
1. The Dartmoor ESA aims to protect and enhance the area's special landscape, wildlife and historic value through the maintenance and adoption of environmentally beneficial livestock farming systems and land management practices.
Summary Of Objectives & Their Relationship To Tiers
| Related tier(s) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | To maintain and restore the landscape character through the maintenance of grassland and woodland and the protection, management and restoration of key elements such as hedges, banks, walls and traditional buildings. | All, inc. field boundary supplements |
| 2. | To protect archaeological and historic features. | All |
| 3. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest and landscape character of unimproved pasture and rough land by encouraging appropriate grazing, cutting and/or burning and bracken management. | 1D, inc. Winter Livestock Removal Supplement |
| 4. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest and landscape character of moorland by encouraging appropriate grazing, burning and/or cutting management. | 1E, 2B, inc. moorland supplements |
| 5. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of species-rich hay meadows. | 2A |
| 6. | To increase the area of moorland by re-creation on land previously improved for agriculture. | 2C |
| 7. | To maintain and enhance the nature conservation and landscape interest of small-scale native woodland. | Woodland |
Background to the ESA
1. The ESA extends over 100,275 hectares of Devon and comprises all of the Dartmoor National Park together with a hill area north east of the Teign Valley and two areas of heath and farmland: one south west of Lee Moor China Clay pits and the other on the north west boundary. It is the highest and most extensive upland area in southern England and is underlain by a large granite massif. Agriculture is based on a long tradition of hill livestock farming, mainly sheep with some beef. The Duchy of Cornwall is the major landowner and a distinctive feature of land management of the area is the ´commons' areas of moorland and heathland (amounting to c. 36,000 ha).
2. There is a diverse environmental interest in Dartmoor. The two large, high moorland plateaux of semi-natural heath, bog and unimproved grassland are intersected and surrounded by lower, enclosed hill farmland. The enclosed land is often improved but does include some species-rich hay meadows, mires and unimproved wet grasslands. Significant areas of semi-natural woodlands also occur. This importance has been recognised by the designation of 27 biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and three National Nature Reserves (NNRs) within the ESA. The area is extremely rich in archaeological remains, dating from prehistoric times to the Modern period.
3. In the last 40 years changes in farming practices have involved the intensification of the peripheral hill land, with diversification to intensive beef, milk and fat lamb production and the loss of employed labour. This has lead to a gradual decline in the quality and area of the heather moorland. On the grassland these changes have lead to the enlargement of fields and the loss of traditional boundaries. These threats have been countered by the designation of the area as an ESA.
4. This is a ´whole-farm' scheme which started in 1994. The revised scheme has been introduced in 1999 and the overall uptake at the end of 1998 was approximately 25,065 hectares.
5. A priority objective is to secure the favourable management of the moorland and heathland communities. To help achieve this Tiers 1E and 2B have been modified to ensure that a site-specific Moorland Management Plan is agreed, to address issues such as stocking regimes and other management to be adopted. To accompany these changes there are also several new supplements. The Early Winter Stocking Level Supplement, Winter Cattle Removal Supplement and the Winter Livestock Removal Supplement aim to remove livestock when the semi-natural moorland vegetation is most sensitive to grazing pressure. The Summer Purple Moor-grass Supplement is designed to control the unwelcome dominance of this species by targeted cattle summer stocking.
6. For the unimproved pasture and rough land communities, Tier 1D has been revised to allow topping in appropriate circumstances (e.g. to control bracken), to establish a site-specific Grassland Management Plan (to increase the environmental benefits), to prohibit supplementary feeding and to stop indiscriminate burning of vegetation (which if properly managed could be of environmental benefit). A Winter Livestock Removal Supplement has been introduced to encourage the regeneration of unimproved pastures and enclosed rough land, by the removal of stock.
7. Minor changes have been made to the hay meadow tier (2A) which permit livestock other than cattle and sheep to graze the meadows, prohibit supplementary feeding, require manure that is well rotted and permit the application of certain prohibited substances following approval from the Project Officer.
8. A new tier (Tier 2C) has been introduced to increase the area of moorland and heathland vegetation on land previously improved for agriculture. These prescriptions cover the re-seeding requirements and the grazing regime, which specifies very low stocking levels in the summer and total stock exclusion in the winter.
9. The above tiers are the main mechanism for achieving the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets for the habitats in the area.
10. All tiers aim to protect the landscape and its characteristic elements and historic features. Tier 1A (All land) has been refined and now includes an enhancement which affords greater protection of historic features, provisions to assist in the better management of common land, an increase in the permitted area of Tier 1A arable land and a simplification of the operation of the wall restoration programme. Tier 1B aims to maintain the grassland character of Dartmoor and has been improved to allows selective re-seeding to sustain sward condition. Throughout the ESA, the opportunity to enhance the landscape elements such as hedgerows, hedgebanks, walls, traditional orchards, historic features and wildlife habitats can be achieved through the Conservation Plans.
11. A further addition to the scheme is the introduction of payments for woodland under a new Woodland Tier or as part of Tier 1A are available in the ESA. Both require an agreed Woodland Management Plan which may involve the exclusion of stock. The Woodland Tier, in particular, aims to address the BAP targets for small-scale native woodlands in the area and secure their long-term nature conservation and landscape value.
Tier 1A All land
Scheme Prescriptions
1. Do not increase your existing area of arable land without the Ministry's prior written approval.
2. Do not increase your existing application rates of organic or inorganic fertiliser.
3. Do not apply organic fertiliser within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole that supplies water for human consumption or within 10 metres of any watercourse.
4. Retain hedges, walls and banks and do not remove any part thereof.
5. Maintain stockproof hedges, walls and banks in a stockproof condition using traditional materials.
6. Do not plough or apply pesticides or fertiliser on land within 1 metre of any hedge, wall or bank.
7. For a supplementary payment, you MAY agree a programme to manage stockproof hedgerows in a traditional manner, so that laying of the hedge occurs at the appropriate time in the management cycle. Payment for this annual management will be calculated on the basis of every 10 metres of traditionally managed stockproof hedges per hectare of agreement land with hedges (excluding Newtakes and Moorland). You must agree to manage at least 10 metres of stockproof hedges per eligible hectare of land in your agreement. The maximum length that you can enter is 200 metres per hectare for the first 10 hectares of your agreement with 100 metres for every hectare thereafter. Payment will be stepped accordingly.
8. For a supplementary payment you MAY agree a programme, for a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten years, for the restoration of stone walls and banks. Payment will be calculated on the basis of every metre of wall or bank restored in each year.
9. Do not erect any new permanent fences, other than for side protection of stockproof hedges, banks and walls, without the Ministry's prior written approval.
10. Retain and manage existing watercourses, ditches, ponds and wetland (including margins and banks) for which you are responsible. Carry out any maintenance by mechanical means, not pesticides. Do not construct any new ponds without the Ministry's prior written approval.
11. Retain and, where necessary, manage all individual and groups of trees; agree in writing with the Project Officer and implement a programme to conserve and protect areas of non net-income generating woodland. These will be identified on the agreement map and will receive payment at the All land rate. Seek prior written approval from the Ministry before planting any new woodland or trees.
12. Do not remove large boulders or rock outcrops.
13. Manage scrub.
14. Any bracken control must be carried out in accordance with a programme agreed in advance with the Project Officer and any other consents obtained. Where bracken cannot be controlled by mechanical means and the use of a herbicide is necessary, only Asulam may be used where application is by means of a boom sprayer (including aerial application). Other herbicides and application methods may be used only in agreement with the Project Officer.
15. Dispose of sheep dip safely. Do not spread sheep dip where it may affect areas of nature conservation value.
16. Maintain any weatherproof traditional farm buildings for which you are responsible in a weatherproof condition using traditional styles and materials.
17. Do not damage, destroy or remove any feature of archaeological or historic value or interest.
18. At the start of your agreement obtain written advice on the management of known archaeological and historic features on your land. Where standard advice on agricultural management is provided this should be implemented within 12 months. Where more specific advice is required this should be obtained within the first 12 months of your agreement and appropriate advice implemented within two years.
19. Obtain written advice on siting, design and materials before constructing buildings or roads or carrying out any other engineering or construction works which do not require planning permission or prior notification determination by the Local Planning Authority.
20. You must identify on your application any common land within the ESA where you have grazing rights and your current use of those rights. Where common land is not subject to agreement you must not increase your use (stock numbers and period of grazing) of the common land except by prior written agreement with the Ministry. You may, however, continue to carry out normal stock movements.
21. You must abide by the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice (Annex IVII) for the Protection of Soil, Air and Water, published by the Ministry (references PB 0617, PB 0618 and PB 0585) as amended from time to time.
Agronomic Impact
1. The area of crops and fallow has declined from 4992 ha in 1985 to 3541 ha in 1996 as a direct result of growing less cereals - which fell by 1585 ha during this period. Break crops such as Field beans, peas, linseed and oilseed rape amount to 111 ha. They are all heavily dependant on arable aid subsidy for their profitability and because of their extent have not merited budgeting. Maize, cut for silage, has not been considered as a separate crop as it is part of the forage hectarage. With grain prices at their current low levels, and no immediate prospect of improvement, there is unlikely to be any significant expansion of arable acreage and, therefore, no change in the economic consequences calculation of a change in cropping.
2. The inability to increase existing fertiliser rates will curtail output by about 250kg dry matter per hectare on 5% of farms, resulting in loss of output.
3. The organic manure spreading restrictions are in line with the current code of practice for the protection of water. They do not impose additional financial costs.
4. The retention of existing walls and banks may limit the enlargement of some conservation field but its overall impact will be broadly neutral.
5. The maintenance of stockproof hedges, walls and banks in a stockproof condition with traditional material will involve significant extra costs. In this ESA there are about 50 metres of stockproof boundary per hectare consisting of hedges, banks and walls.
6.No consequences for income forgone
7. See separate Income Forgone calculation. Management of stockproof hedges in a traditional manner will result in extra costs. In this ESA there are about 50 metres of stockproof boundary per hectare consisting of hedges, banks and walls.
8. See separate Income Forgone calculation. Restoration of stone walls and banks will involve substantial extra costs.
9. Inability to erect new permanent fences will have no consequences for Income Forgone.
10. Active management of watercourse, ditches and ponds will involve a slight extra cost on the 12 metres of ditch per hectare on the average site.
11. Management of woodland will incur extra costs. Written advice on woodland management will involve extra costs.
12 No consequences for Income Forgone, but it may prevent the cutting of hay and silage on potential conservation fields.
13. Some extra cost associated with the positive management of scrub.
14.No consequences for income forgone
15. Disposal of sheep dip covered by Code of Good Agricultural Practice (Annex IVII) - no consequences for Income Forgone.
16. Maintenance of traditional weatherproof farm buildings using traditional materials will result in significant extra costs.
17. Extra costs incurred in protecting archaeological and historic sites will be met under a conservation plan. Free advice is provided by Dartmoor National Park - no cost incurred.
18.As for 17 above
19. All new developments within the Dartmoor National Park need their approval. Written advice is freely given.
20-21. No consequences for income forgone
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra Income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income Lost | - | |
| Forage production due to fertiliser constraint | 1 | |
| Sub-total | 1 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Hedge maintenance | 11 | |
| Watercourse maintenance | 1 | |
| Woodland management | 2 | |
| Scrub management | 1 | |
| Maintaining traditional buildings | 22 | |
| Sub-total | 37 | |
| Total | 38 | None |
| Income forgone | 38 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 5,434 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £38/ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £20/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification for Incentive
- N/A
Tier 1B Improved permanent grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions for Tier 1A plus additional prescriptions set out below
1. Maintain improved permanent grassland by grazing and/or cutting. If regeneration or modification of the sward is considered necessary, this should only be carried out with the Ministry's prior written approval and only by direct drilling or surface treatment. Only seed mixtures intended to produce a long term sward may be used. Do not plough or cultivate without the Ministry's prior written agreement.
2. Do not graze so as to cause poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing.
3. If you cut the grass, graze the aftermath.
4. Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.
Agronomic Impact
1. The inability to plough and reseed will reduce the yield of some fields and result in extra costs on purchased feed. It is estimated that the loss of forage dry matter will amount to 480 kg per hectare per year, and the loss in quality will equate to 1600 megajoules per ha per year.
2. All farmers endeavour to manage their land so as not to poach, undergraze or overgraze, however on some farms wintering of cattle can cause severe poaching, necessitating complete reseeding. Strict avoidance of poaching will result in increased wintering costs on some farms.
3. It is now normal practice to graze the aftermath and wilt and turn the silage crop before removal - no extra costs associated with this prescription.
4. This prescription will prevent essential ´fire brigade' drainage from being carried out. However the Income Forgone is considered to be insignificant.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra Income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income Lost | - | |
| Livestock production due to reseeding restriction | 2 | |
| Poaching damage | 4 | |
| Sub-total | 6 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Tier 1A costs | 38 | |
| Sub-total | 38 | |
| Total | 44 | None |
| Income forgone | 44 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 4,896 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £44/ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £27/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification for Incentive
- N/A
Tier 1C - Low-input permanent grassland
Scheme Preparations
Observe prescriptions for Tier 1A, plus additional prescriptions set out below
1. Maintain low-input permanent grassland. Do not plough, level or reseed. Cultivate only with a chain harrow or roller.
2. Do not graze so as to cause poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing.
3. Do not exceed your existing application rates of inorganic fertiliser and, in any event, do not exceed 50 kg nitrogen, 25 kg phosphate and 25 kg potash per hectare per year.
4. Do not apply any organic fertiliser except for farmyard manure (FYM) or slurry. Do not exceed your existing application rates and, in any event, do not exceed 25 tonnes per hectare per year. Do not apply pig or poultry manure or sewage sludge.
5. Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity without the Ministry's prior written approval.
6. Do not apply fungicides or insecticides.
7.Do not apply herbicides except to control bracken, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort or to carry out stump treatment of cleared scrub. With the exception of bracken control, apply herbicides only by means of a wick applicator or by spot treatment.
8. If you cut the grass for hay, continue to do so and graze the aftermath. Wilt any grass cut for silage before removal.
9. Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.
Agronomic Impact
1. The inability to plough level or reseed will result in a potential loss of yield. It is estimated that the loss of forage dry matter will amount to 480 kg per hectare per year, and the loss in quality will equate to 1600 megajoules per ha per year.
2. All farmers endeavour to manage their land so as not to poach, undergraze or overgraze, however on some farms wintering of cattle can cause severe poaching, necessitating complete reseeding. Strict avoidance of poaching will result in increased wintering costs on some farms.
3. Rigid application of fertiliser rates will increase costs as farmers will have to purchase additional forage dry matter. The loss of production is estimated at 100 kg of dry matter on 50% of farms.
4.No consequences for income forgone
45. There will be a loss in dry matter production associated with increasing acidity. The loss of production is estimated at 300 kg of dry matter on 50% of farms.
6-8.No consequences for income forgone
59. This prescription will prevent essential ´fire brigade' drainage from being carried out, resulting in a potential loss of utilisable dry matter production. The consequences of this prescription are financially insignificant.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra Income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income Lost | - | |
| Livestock production due to reseeding restriction | 2 | |
| Livestock production due to fertiliser restriction | 3 | |
| Livestock production due to liming restriction | 7 | |
| Sub-total | 12 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Tier 1A costs | 38 | |
| Poaching damage | 4 | |
| Sub-total | 42 | |
| Total | 54 | None |
| Income forgone | 54 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 7,785 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £54/ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £32/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification for Incentive
- N/A
Tier 1D - Unimproved pasture and enclosed rough ground
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions for Tier 1A plus additional prescriptions set out below.
1. Maintain unimproved pasture and enclosed rough land. Do not excavate, plough, level, reseed, chain harrow, roll or otherwise cultivate. Do not cut or top the vegetation at any time without the Ministry's prior written approval or as agreed under a Grassland Management Plan or bracken control programme. You must not undertake any other form of mechanical operation during the period 1 April to 30 June.
2. Within one year of the start of your agreement agree in writing with the Project Officer a plan of grassland management which must be implemented. The plan will include the stocking regime and any necessary, controlled burning, cutting, scrub and bracken management. If, as part of an agreed Grassland Management Plan, you agree to remove stock in winter you may be eligible for a supplementary payment.
3. Do not provide livestock with supplementary feed or mineral or feed blocks unless agreed as part of a Grassland Management Plan.
4. Do not graze so as to cause poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing.
5. Do not apply any organic or inorganic fertiliser.
6. Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity.
7. Do not apply fungicides or insecticides.
8. Do not apply herbicides except to control bracken, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort or to carry out stump treatment of cleared scrub. With the exception of bracken control, apply herbicides only by means of a wick applicator or by spot treatment.
9. Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.
10. Do not erect any temporary fencing without the Ministry's prior written approval.
11. Do not burn any purple moor-grass, scrub, bracken litter or other vegetation without the Ministry's prior written approval or as agreed in a Grassland Management Plan.
Agronomic Impact
1. Surface improvement unlikely on this class of land, therefore there are not considered to be any economic consequences.
2. Likely to involve additional costs associated with scrub control etc. It is estimated that 5% of all land in this tier will require some form of control on an annual basis.
3. Likely to result in a reduction in winter stocking levels, particularly cattle leading to increased winter housing costs. It is estimated that cattle to the equivalent of an additional 0.43 GLU will be away wintered. There will be associated feeding cost savings for these animals.
4. Traditionally used for overwintering - extra costs associated with housing or the away wintering of cattle. It is estimated that cattle to the equivalent of an additional 0.25 GLU will be away wintered on 25% of farms. There will be associated feeding cost savings for these animals, and an increase in sheep stocking of this land equivalent to 0.125 GLU.
5. Income forgone by not applying low levels of fertiliser, lime and slag. Forage production is estimated to be reduced by 375 kg dry matter on 20% of sites.
6.As for 5 above
7.No consequences for income forgone
68. Spot treatment of named weeds and mechanical control of nettles and rushes will lead to increased costs though they are likely to be small.
9-11.No consequences for income forgone
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income lost | - | |
| Livestock production due to fertiliser restriction | 3 | |
| Sub-total | 3 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Grassland management plan | 22 | |
| Costs resulting from supplementary feeding restriction | 25 | |
| Poaching damage | 7 | |
| Tier 1A costs | 38 | |
| Sub-total | 92 | |
| Total | 95 | None |
| Income forgone | 95 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 4,022 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £95/ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £37/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification for Incentive
- N/A
Winter livestock removal supplement
Scheme Prescriptions
1.The Ministry will make a supplementary payment if, as part of a written Grassland Management Plan agreed with the Project Officer, you remove all livestock from 1 November to 31 March.
Agronomic Impact
1.Increased costs will be incurred due to away wintering of livestock.
Labour savings associated with less time spent shepherding and feeding stock over winter due to away wintering, will amount to 30 % of the total, to reflect the use of family/unpaid labour
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Feed: | ||
| - Hay | 15.9 | |
| - Concentrates | 6.8 | |
| Labour: | ||
| - Cattle | 3.3 | |
| - Sheep | 4.3 | |
| Sub-total | 30.3 | |
| Income lost | None | - |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Away wintering: | ||
| - Cattle | 81.2 | |
| - Sheep | 13.2 | |
| Transport: | ||
| - Cattle | 7.1 | |
| - Sheep | 2.2 | |
| Sub-total | 103.7 | |
| Total | 103.7 | 30.3 |
| Income Forgone | 73.4 |
- Uptake targets up to January 2003
- 700 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £48 £73.4/ha
- Current Payment
- £50/ha
- Level of Incentive
- £2 N/A
- Justification for Incentive
- Increased costs will be incurred due to away wintering of cattle
Tier 1E - Moorland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions for Tier 1A plus additional prescriptions set out below
1. Maintain moorland. Do not excavate, plough, level, reseed, chain harrow, roll or otherwise cultivate.
2. Do not graze so as to cause poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing.
3. Do not apply any organic or inorganic fertiliser.
4. Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity.
5. Do not apply fungicides or insecticides.
6. Do not apply herbicides except to control bracken, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort or to carry out stump treatment of cleared scrub. With the exception of bracken control, apply herbicides only by means of a wick applicator or by spot treatment.
7. Do not install any new land drainage system or modify any existing land drainage system so as to bring about improved drainage.
8. Within one year of the start of your agreement agree in writing with the Project Officer a plan of moorland management which must be implemented. The plan will include the stocking regime and any necessary controlled burning, cutting, scrub and bracken management. If, as part of an agreed Moorland Management Plan, you agree to adjust your stocking levels and periods you may be eligible for the Winter Cattle Removal, Early Winter Stocking Level and Summer Purple Moor-grass grazing supplementary payments. In any event you must not exceed the following winter stocking level prescriptions.
9. During the period 16 April to 31 October, do not exceed your existing total stocking level or cattle stocking level. In any event, do not exceed a stocking level (excluding ponies) based on 0.36 livestock units per hectare (LU/ha) on dry grass moorland and 0.225 LU/ha on other moorland.
10. During the period 1 November to 15 April do not exceed your existing total stocking level or cattle stocking level. In any event, do not exceed a total stocking level (excluding ponies) based on 0.235 livestock units per hectare (LU/ha) on dry grass moorland, and 0.17 LU/ha on other moorland
11. Do not increase your existing pony stocking level and, in any event, do not exceed a pony stocking level of 0.04 livestock units per hectare (LU/ha) (above the other maximum stocking levels) except where agreed in writing as part of an agreed Moorland Management Plan when, if environmentally acceptable, additional ponies of the Dartmoor type may be substituted for other livestock. Any ponies grazed during any part of the winter must be hardy.
12. Do not erect temporary fencing without the Ministry's prior written approval.
13. Ensure adequate stock management to achieve even grazing over the different moorland types and to avoid other livestock straying onto the land.
14. Do not provide livestock (including ponies) with supplementary feed except in emergency conditions and then feed only hay. Ensure minimal physical damage to moorland.
Agronomic Impact
1.No consequences for income forgone
2.Compliance with the winter stocking rates required under this tier is likely to virtually eliminate the incidence of poaching damage, consequently there will be no significant IF.
3-7 No consequences for income forgone
8. Some additional costs will be incurred through carrying out vegetation management.
9. Will result in a reduction in summer stocking, and reduced profitability. It is estimated that the stocking rates will need to be reduced by 0.16 GLU per hectare on grass moors and 0.075 GLU on other moors. There will be associated savings in labour and other costs which have been included in the budget below.
10 . Will result in a reduction in winter stocking and hence increased costs, and/or reduced profitability. It is estimated that the winter stocking rates will need to be reduced by 0.065 GLU per hectare on grass moors and 0.055 GLU on other moors. The costs of away wintering are off set to some extent by savings in supplementary feeding and labour costs.
11. The imposition of ESA stocking rates would halve pony populations. The costs associated with this prescription are not significant.
12. No consequences for income forgone
13. Time saved in feeding cattle and sheep will be redirected toward stock management and shepherding at no extra cost.
14. Substantial stock reduction imposed by following earlier prescription should ensure that there is adequate roughage present and no extra cost is associated with this item.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra Income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income Lost | - | |
| Livestock production due to summer stocking restrictions | 24 | |
| Sub-total | 24 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Modified Tier 1A compliance: | ||
| Woodland management (50% of sites) | 1.0 | |
| Watercourse management | 0.9 | |
| Building maintenance (10% of sites) | 2.2 | |
| Wall/bank maintenance (8% of sites) | 0.9 | |
| Moorland management plan | 2 | |
| Costs resulting from winter stocking restriction | 19 | |
| Sub-total | 26 | |
| Total | 50 | None |
| Income forgone | 50 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 10,069 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £50/ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £60/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A 20%
- Justification for Incentive
- N/A The environmental importance of the Moorland is a key factor behind the designation of the ESA. The Scheme objectives and performance indicator targets require significant uptake of this Tier. The maximum incentive has been applied in order to maintain uptake.
Early winter stocking level supplement
Scheme Prescriptions
1.The Ministry will make a supplementary payment if, as part of a written Moorland Management Plan, agreed with the Project Officer, you comply with the permitted winter stocking level and conditions from 1 September to 15 April, instead of 1 November to 15 April.
Agronomic Impact
1.Increased overwintering charge/costs for cattle. Labour savings associated with less time spent shepherding and feeding stock over winter due to away wintering, will amount to 30 % of the total, to reflect the use of family/unpaid labour.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Labour | 0.4 | |
| Sub-total | 0.4 | |
| Income lost | None | - |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Extra away wintering: | 8.7 | |
| Transport: | 1.9 | |
| Sub-total | 10.6 | |
| Total | 10.6 | 0.4 |
| Income Forgone | 10.2 |
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Labour | 0.2 | |
| Sub-total | 0.2 | |
| Income lost | None | - |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Extra away wintering: | 3.8 | |
| Transport: | 0.8 | |
| Sub-total | 4.6 | |
| Total | 4.6 | 0.2 |
| Income Forgone | 4.4 |
Assuming that the split of dry grass:other moorland is 50:50, the average income forgone under this supplement is (£10.2 + £4.4)/2 = £7.3/ha
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 500 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £7.30/ha
- Current Payment
- £8.50/ha
- Level of Incentive
- £1.20 16%
- Justification for incentive
- Increased overwintering charge/costs for cattle
Winter cattle removal supplement
Scheme Prescription
1.The Ministry will make a supplementary payment if, as part of a written Moorland Management Plan agreed with the Project Officer, you remove cattle for the period 1 November to 15 April. During this period you must not exceed your existing sheep stocking level and, in any event, you must not exceed 0.17 LU/ha.
Agronomic Impact
1. Increased overwintering charge/costs for cattle. Labour savings associated with less time spent shepherding and feeding stock over winter due to away wintering, will amount to 30 % of the total, to reflect the use of family/unpaid labour.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Supplementary feed | 6.0 | |
| 2.6 | ||
| Labour | 1.2 | |
| Sub-total | 9.8 | |
| Income lost | None | - |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Extra away wintering | 29.8 | |
| Transport | 2.4 | |
| Sub-total | 32.2 | |
| Total | 32.2 | |
| Income Forgone | 22.4 |
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Feed: | ||
| - Hay | 6.0 | |
| - Cobs | 2.6 | |
| Labour | 1.2 | |
| Sub-total | 9.8 | |
| Income lost | None | - |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Away wintering: | 29.8 | |
| - Transport | 2.4 | |
| Sub-total | 32.2 | |
| Total | 32.2 | 9.8 |
| Income Forgone | 22.4 |
Assuming that the split of dry grass:other moorland is 50:50, the average income forgone under this supplement is (£22.4 + £15.7)/2 = £19.1/ha
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 1,700 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £19/ha
- Current Payment
- £15/ha
- Level of incentive
- N/A
- Justification for incentive
- N/A
Summer purple moor-grass grazing supplement
Scheme Prescriptions
1.The Ministry will make a supplementary payment if, as part of a written Moorland Management Plan agreed with the Project Officer, you implement an agreed stocking programme for the grazing by cattle of areas dominated by purple moor-grass between 15 May and 15 August.
Agronomic Impact
1.Autumn calving cows are likely to achieve a higher gross margin than spring calving cows. However, they also incur significantly higher wintering changes.
2.Ultimately any change to an autumn calving system will lead to producers changing the breed of cow from predominantly Galloway to a more productive cross bed type of cow which in turn would lead to a better quality store animal and improved returns, this has not been costed in, as it is likely to be a transition over time.
3.Grazing cows on the moor during summer will result in increased forage production from enclosed ground.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | |
| Autumn Calver | 103.6 | |
| Additional lowland forage production | 10 | |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Hay | 10.2 | |
| Labour | 2.6 | |
| Interest on working capital | 8.9 | |
| Sub-total | 135.3 | |
| Income lost | - | |
| Spring calver | 92.4 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Away wintering | 63.7 | |
| Transport | 4 | |
| Interest on working capital | 10.4 | |
| Sub-total | 170.50 | |
| Total | 170.50 | 135.3 |
| Income Forgone | 35.2 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 700 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £35/ha
- Current Payment
- £25/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification for incentive
- N/A
Tier 2A - Species rich hay meadows
Scheme Prescriptions
1. Do not plough, level or reseed. Cultivate only with a chain harrow or roller except during the period 1 April to 15 July.
2.Graze with cattle or sheep or both and avoid poaching, overgrazing or undergrazing. Other livestock, (including horse and ponies( may be grazed with the Ministry's prior written approval. Exclude stock from hay meadows by 15 May until the end of cutting. Cut hay meadows annually for hay, but not silage. Do not cut in any year before 15 July. Cut hay meadows after 31 July at least once every five years. Remove the cut crop and graze the aftermath.
3.Do not provide livestock with supplementary feed or mineral or feed blocks without the Ministry's prior written approval.
4. Do not apply any organic or inorganic fertiliser except for well rotted farmyard manure (FYM). Do not exceed your existing application rates of FYM and, in any event, do not apply more than 20 tonnes of FYM per hectare in any three year period. Apply FYM only in a single dressing. Do not apply slurry, pig or poultry manure or sewage sludge.
5.Do not apply lime, slag or any other substance designed to reduce soil acidity without the Ministry's prior written approval.
6. Do not apply fungicides or insecticides.
7. Do not apply herbicides except to control bracken, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock or ragwort or to carry out stump treatment of cleared scrub. With the exception of bracken control, apply herbicides only by means of a wick applicator or by spot treatment.
Agronomic Impact
1. The inability to plough and reseed will reduce the yield of some fields and result in extra costs on purchased feed. It is estimated that the loss of forage dry matter will amount to 480 kg per hectare per year, and the loss in quality will equate to 1600 megajoules per ha per year.
2. Output reduced both in terms of yield (150 kg dry matter) and quality (4275 megajoules) due to late cutting, extra costs incurred on purchased feed.
3.No consequences for income forgone
4. Output restricted by lack of nitrogen by an estimated 1.3 tonnes of dry matter per hectare. Extra costs incurred on purchasing replacement forage.
5. Output restricted by lack of lime and slag by an estimated 200 kg of dry matter per hectare. Extra costs incurred on purchasing replacement forage.
6-7.No consequences for income forgone
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra Income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income Lost | - | |
| Reduction in livestock due to reseeding restriction | 2 | |
| Reduction in livestock due to fertiliser restriction | 41 | |
| Reduction in livestock due to FYM restriction | 25 | |
| Reduction in livestock due to liming restriction | 6 | |
| Sub-total | 74 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Additional costs due to late cutting of forage | 53 | |
| Tier 1A costs | 38 | |
| Sub-total | 91 | |
| Total | 165 | None |
| Income forgone | 165 |
- Targets to 2003
- 150 hectares
- Income forgone
- £165/ha
- Current payment
- £160/ha
- Level of incentive
- N/A
- Justification for incentive
- N/A
New Tier 2B - Moorland enhancement
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions for Tier 1A and 1E, plus additional prescriptions set out below
1. During the period 16 April to 31 October, do not exceed your existing total stocking level or cattle stocking level. In any event, do not exceed a total stocking level (excluding ponies) of 0.26 livestock units/hectare (LU/ha) on dry grass moorland, and 0.17 LU/ha on other moorland.
2. During the period 1 November to 15 April, do not graze with cattle, and do not exceed your existing sheep stocking level. In any event, do not exceed a total sheep stocking level (excluding ponies) of 0.13 stock units/hectare (LU/ha) on dry grass moorland, and 0.08 LU/ha on other moorland.
Agronomic Impact
1.Away wintering costs will be incurred for cattle and sheep.
2.Labour savings associated with a reduction in enterprise size, shepherding and feeding fewer livestock over the winter period, are estimated to be 30 % of the total cost to reflect the use of family / unpaid labour.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income lost | - | |
| Reduction in livestock due to summer stocking restrictions | 37 | |
| Sub-total | 37 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Modified Tier 1A compliance: | ||
| - Woodland management (50% of sites) | 1.0 | |
| - Watercourse management | 0.9 | |
| - Building maintenance (10% of sites) | 2.2 | |
| - Wall/bank maintenance (8% of sites) | 0.9 | |
| - Away wintering costs resulting from winter stocking limits | 32 | |
| Sub-total | 37 | |
| Total | 74 | None |
| Income forgone | 74 |
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | ||
| Quota leasing | 2.9 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Feed: | ||
| - Hay | 5.5 | |
| - Concentrates | 2.4 | |
| Labour | 4.8 | |
| Interest on working capital | 4.1 | |
| Sub-total | 19.7 | |
| Income lost | ||
| Gross Margins | 43 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Away wintering: | 37.6 | |
| - Transport | 2.2 | |
| Sub-total | 82.8 | |
| Total | 82.8 | 19.7 |
| Income Forgone | 63.1 |
Assuming that the split of dry grass:other Moorland is 50:50, the average income forgone under this supplement is (£125.6 + £63.1)/2 = £94.4/ha
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 831 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £94/ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £105/ha
- Level of Incentive
- £11.00 11%
- Justification for Incentive
- The aim of this tier is to increase and improve the condition of heather moorland under very restrictive management. A small incentive is required to do this.
Winter livestock removal supplement
Scheme Prescriptions
1.The Ministry will make a supplementary payment if, as part of a written Moorland Management Plan agreed with the Project Officer, you remove all livestock for the period 1 September to 15 April.
Agronomic Impact
1.Away wintering of cattle and sheep will result in increased costs to the farm business. Labour savings as a result of away wintering stock are estimated to represent 30 % of the total cost, reflecting the use of family / unpaid labour.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Feed: | ||
| - Hay | 1.5 | |
| - Concentrates | 0.7 | |
| Labour | 2.7 | |
| Sub-total | 4.9 | |
| Income lost | None | - |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Away wintering: | 17.3 | |
| Transport: | 1.4 | |
| Sub-total | 18.7 | |
| Total | 18.7 | 4.9 |
| Income Forgone | 13.8 |
- Uptake targets to January 2003
- 500 hectares
- Income forgone
- £14/ha
- Current Payment
- £12/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification for incentive
- N/A
Summer purple moor-grass grazing supplement
Scheme Prescription
1.The Ministry will make a supplementary payment if, as part of a written Moorland Management Plan agreed with the Project Officer, you implement an agreed stocking programme for the grazing of cattle of areas dominated by purple moor-grass between 15 May and 15 August.
Agronomic Impact
1.Autumn calving cows are likely to achieve a higher gross margin than spring calving cows. However, they also incur significantly higher wintering changes.
2.Ultimately any change to an autumn calving system will lead to producers changing the breed of cow from predominantly Galloway to a more productive cross bed type of cow which in turn would lead to a better quality store animal and improved returns, this has not been costed in, as it is likely to be a transition over time.
3.Grazing cows on the moor during summer will result in increased forage production from enclosed ground.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | |
| Autumn Calver | 103.6 | |
| Additional lowland forage production | 10 | |
| Sub-total | 113.6 | |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Hay | 10.2 | |
| Labour | 2.6 | |
| Interest on working capital | 8.9 | |
| Sub-total | 21.7 | |
| Income lost | - | |
| Spring calver | 92.4 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Away wintering | 63.7 | |
| Transport | 4 | |
| Interest on working capital | 10.4 | |
| Sub-total | 170.5 | |
| Total | 170.5 | 135.3 |
| Income Forgone | 35.2 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 500 hectares
- Income forgone
- £35/ha
- Current Payment
- £25/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification for incentive
- N/A
Tier 2 C - Moorland re-creation
Scheme Prescriptions
1.Cease to use the grassland within 12 months of the start of your agreement and implement a heather restoration programme to be agreed in writing with the Project Officer.
2.Do not graze in the summer so as to inhibit heather regeneration. Graze only with sheep, at a stocking level not exceeding 0.1 LU/ha between 15 May and 15 August. Exclude all livestock between 16 August and 14 May.
Agronomic Impact
Loss of 1.4 GLU/ha GM (67% Sucklers/Beef. 33% Sheep)
Savings in forage costs and working capital.
Fixed cost savings associated with a reduction in enterprise sizes.
Extra costs with heather establishment.
Extra costs associated with grazing sheep in the summer.
| £/ha | Loss | Gain |
| Extra income | - | |
| Quota Leasing: | ||
| - Beef | 16.9 | |
| - Sheep | 7.4 | |
| - Summer sheep GM | 6.9 | |
| Sub-total | 31.2 | |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Interest on working capital: | ||
| - Beef | 30.0 | |
| - Sheep | 13.6 | |
| Labour: | ||
| - Beef | 16.0 | |
| - Sheep | 20.1 | |
| Forage costs | 120.0 | |
| Sub-total | 199.7 | |
| Income lost | - | |
| Beef | 335.6 | |
| Sheep | 127.0 | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Heather establishment - £106/ha | 16.0 | |
| Labour - summer sheep grazing | 0.6 | |
| Interest on working capital | 0.7 | |
| Quota leasing | 1.3 | |
| Sub-total | 481.2 | |
| Total | 481.2 | 230.9 |
| Income Forgone | 250.3 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 400 hectares
- Income forgone
- £250/ha
- Current Payment
- £250/ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification for Incentive
- N/A
Traditional hedgerow management supplement
Scheme Prescription
1.For a supplementary payment, you MAY agree a programme to manage stockproof hedgerows in a traditional manner, so that laying of the hedge occurs at the appropriate time in the management cycle. Payment for this annual management will be calculated on the basis of every 10 metres of traditionally managed stockproof hedges per hectare of agreement land with hedges (excluding Newtakes and Moorland). You must agree to manage at least 10 metres of stockproof hedges per eligible hectare of land in your agreement. The maximum length that you can enter is 200 metres per hectare for the first 10 hectares of your agreement with 100 metres for every hectare thereafter. Payment will be stepped accordingly.
Agronomic Impact
The maintenance of stockproof hedges, walls and banks in a stockproof condition with traditional material will involve significant extra costs. In this ESA there are about 50 metres of stockproof boundary per hectare consisting of hedges, banks and walls.
| £/10m | Loss | Gain |
| Extra Income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income Lost | None | - |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Annual Trimming | 0.9 | |
| Laying/fencing | 8.0 | |
| Sub-total | 8.90 | |
| Total | 8.90 | |
| Income forgone | 8.90/10m |
- Uptake Targets to January 2003
- 112,000 hectares metres
- Income Forgone
- £8.90 pe