Somerset Levels and Moors ESA
- Aims and objectives
- Background to the ESA
- Tier 1 - Permanent grassland
- Tier 1A - Extensive permanent grassland
- Tier 2 - Wet permanent grassland
- Tier 3 - Permanent grassland raised water level areas
- Buffer strip supplement (available on tiers 1, 1A and 2)
- All year penning supplement (available on tiers 1, 1A and 2)
- Raised water level areas supplement
Aims and objectives
1.The Somerset Levels and Moors ESA aims to protect and locally enhance the wet permanent grassland character of the area, with its landscape, wildlife and historic interest, through the maintenance and adoption of extensive pastoral farming systems and appropriate water level management.
2. Specific objectives are:
| Related tier(s) | |
|---|---|
| To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of extensive permanent grassland. | 1A |
| To maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of the wet grassland by sustaining and extending the area under extensive management, by managing ditch water levels, and by increasing the area of land attractive to waders and wildfowl. | 2, 3, inc. supplements |
| To maintain and locally enhance the wet grassland landscape character of the area by sustaining and extending the area of permanent grassland, and through the management of elements such as pollarded willows and ditches. | All |
| To protect archaeological and historic features. | All |
Background to the ESA
1.The ESA extends over 29,260 hectares of the central Somerset lowlands, bounded by the Mendips to the north, low limestone escarpments to the east, the Blackdown Hills to the south and the Quantock Hills to the west.The moors comprise an extensive area of very low-lying basin peat, with a few remnants of raised bog, surrounded by alluvial clay and silt. The peat is overlain by riverine clay. Westwards from the moors lies an extensive area of slightly higher estuarine alluvium known as the Levels, most of which is excluded from the ESA. Grassland predominates and, traditionally, has been used for summer cattle grazing and hay cutting.
2.The whole area forms the largest remaining lowland wet grassland system in Britain and is consequently of outstanding environmental interest. The ecological interest is associated with the wet, often species-rich pastures and meadows and the surrounding network of ditches with their aquatic flora and invertebrate interest. This wet grassland area supports overwintering wildfowl and breeding waders for which part of the area is designated as a Ramsar/SPA site. The landscape value lies in the rectilinear pattern of traditionally managed fields and drainage channels within a low-lying wet and expansive grassland area. In addition, there is a wealth of archaeological interest, ranging from prehistoric wooden trackways to more recent buildings and structures.
3.In the 1970s and early 1980s the drainage of large areas of the Moors was improved. This, along with the increased use of chemicals and fertilisers resulted in the grassland being improved or converted to arable. This threat has been countered by the designation of 13 moors as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and the establishment of the area as an ESA.
4.This is a 'part-farm' scheme which started in 1987. In 1992 it was extended by 530 ha and by a further 1,580 ha when the revised scheme was introduced in 1997. Overall uptake at the end of 1998 was c. 16,748 hectares.
5.A priority objective is to sensitively manage the grassland and water levels in the surrounding ditches (most tiers). Tier 1a helps to achieve enhancement by protecting the semi-improved, improved and unimproved species rich grassland through reduced inputs. To help achieve enhancement a new tier (Tier 1A) has been introduced to protect the semi-improved and unimproved species-rich grassland, through reduced inputs. The management requirements are similar to Tier 2, but without the water level restrictions. A water level supplement is also available on a site-specific basis, and is designed to benefit birds or rare plant species. These tiers and supplements are the main mechanism for achieving the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets in the area.
6.A further objective is to maintain the traditional landscape character, including the field boundary and historic features, by encouraging appropriate grassland management (all tiers). Enhancement of features such as ditches, pollarded willows, gates/wing fences and historic artefacts is encouraged through the Conservation Plans.
7.A new The all-year penning supplement (for Tiers 1, 1A & 2) has been introduced to maintains summer penning levels throughout the winter to protect the peat resource and its associated archaeological remains.
8.A new A buffer strip supplement has been introduced for arable land to creates fertiliser-free grass buffer strips adjacent to water courses. These are designed to reduce the run-off of agricultural inputs into the ditches, thus protecting the diverse, aquatic plant and insect communities.
Tier 1 Permanent grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
1. Maintain grassland, do not plough, level or reseed land. You may use a chain harrow or roller but no other form of cultivation is allowed.
2. Graze with cattle or sheep but avoid poaching, under-grazing or over-grazing.
3. If you cut the grass for hay or silage, graze the aftermath.
4. Do not exceed your existing level of inorganic fertiliser and in any case do not exceed 75kg of nitrogen, 37.5kg of phosphate and 37.5kg of potash per hectare (60 units of nitrogen, 30 units of phosphate and 30 units of potash per acre). Do not exceed your existing level of home produced organic fertiliser and do not apply any other organic fertiliser.
5. Do not use fungicides or insecticides.
6. Do not apply herbicides except to control creeping buttercup, soft rush, nettles, spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad-leaved dock or ragwort. Apply herbicides by weed wiper or spot treatment
7. Do not apply lime, slag or any other acidity reducing substance.
8. Do not install under-drainage, do not mole drain, and do not subsoil or tunnel plough. Do not substantially modify your existing drainage system.
9. Maintain existing field gutters, surface piping, rig and furrow, ditches or rhynes by mechanical means, not sprays. Do not install additional surface piping.
10. Do not spray irrigate your land.
11. Maintain hedges, trees and pollarded willows in accordance with local custom.
12. Do not plant any additional trees or allow natural establishment of additional trees/ bush without prior agreement.
13. Do not damage or destroy any features of historic interest.
14. Obtain written advice on siting and materials before constructing buildings, roads or any other engineering operations which do not require planning permission or prior notification determination by the Local Planning Authority.
15. Maintain existing gates with wing fencing but do not erect any additional permanent fencing without prior consent.
16. Water levels in ditches and rhynes must either be:
- From 1 April to 31 October maintained at or above the penning level, provided since 1987, by the relevant Internal Drainage Board (IDB) or the Environment agency (EA) (as appropriate) and from 1 November to 31 March maintained at or above the winter level provided since 1987 by relevant IDB or the EA (as appropriate) with at least 15 cm 15 cm (6") of water in the bottom of the ditches/rhynes at all times.
Or, to obtain a supplementary payment:
- From 1 May to 30 November water levels in ditches and rhynes must be maintained at not more than 30 cm (12") below mean field level and from 1 December to 30 April maintained at not less than mean field levels so as to cause conditions of surface splashing.
17. Agreement holders must not pump below these levels which will be fixed for reference to gauge boards set to Ordnance Datum Newlyn.
18. You must abide by the Codes of Good Agricultural Practice (Annex IVII) for the Protection of Water, Soil and Air, published by the Ministry (references PB 0587, PB 0617 and PB 0618) as amended from time to time.
Agronomic Impact
1. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
2. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
3. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
4. As a consequence of not being able to reseed and a required reduction in fertiliser application from the pre-ESA rate of (200 kg N, 40 kg P2O5, 30 kg K2O)/ha to (75 kg N, 37½ kg P2O5, 37½ kg K2O)/ha, the stocking rate will be reduced from 1.65 GLU/ha to 1.2 GLU/ha. This results in a decrease in livestock gross margin. Costs will be saved from reduced forage inputs, labour and interest on working capital.
5. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
6. Typically this will involve a switch from using cheaper hormone based herbicides on an overall basis to spot treatment or wick application of more expensive chemicals. Both spot and wick application methods are more labour intensive techniques. Topping is also used to control weeds in both the non-ESA and ESA situation.
7. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
8. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
9. ESA agreement holders will have to clean out their ditches and rhynes at a greater frequency than non-agreement holders.
10. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
11. Extra costs of hedge management involving hedge laying on a 15 year cycle and regular hedge trimming traditional to the area. Additional costs will be incurred for maintenance of pollarded willows in accordance with the local custom. Little pollarding is undertaken by non-ESA farmers.
12. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
13. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
14. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
15. Extra costs associated with the maintenance of wooden gates and winged fencing compared to replacement steel gates.
16. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
17. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
18. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
| Item | Losses £/ha |
Gains £/ha |
|---|---|---|
| Extra income | ||
| Reduced livestock Gross margin | 323 | |
| Sub-total | 323 | |
| Costs saved | ||
| Forage costs | 62 | |
| Interest on forage working capital | 3 | |
| Interest on livestock working capital | 12 | |
| Labour | 6 | |
| Sub-total | 83 | |
| Income lost | ||
| Current livestock Gross Margin | 449 | |
| Sub-total | 449 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Weed control | 1 | |
| Ditch management | 52 | |
| Hedgerow management | 29 | |
| Gate maintenance | 1 | |
| Sub-total | 83 | |
| Total | 532 | 406 |
| Income forgone | 126 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2001
- 13,000 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £126/ ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £125/ ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification of Incentive
- N/A
Tier 1A - Extensive permanent grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-18 plus additional prescriptions set out below:
19. Do not use a chain harrow or roller between 31 March and 1 July.
20. Do not exceed your existing level of inorganic fertiliser and in any case do not exceed 25kg of nitrogen, 12.5kg of phosphate and 12.5kg of potash per hectare (20 units of nitrogen, 10 units of phosphate and 10 units of potash per acre) each year.
21. Unless traditionally the land has been used for grazing each year mow at least one third (or one year in three) of the land but not before 1 July and do not graze the land prior to laying it up.
22. Do not cut or top the grass after 31 August.
23. Do not graze with sheep from 1 September to 1 March.
24. Do not use herbicides to control creeping buttercup.
25. Water levels in ditches and rhynes must be:
- From 1 April to 31 October at or above the penning level, provided since 1987, by the relevant IDB or the EA (as appropriate) and from 1 November to 31 March maintained at or above the winter level provided since 1987 by relevant IDB or the EA (as appropriate) with at least 15 cm (6") of water in the bottom of the ditches/rhynes at all times.
26. Agreement holders must not pump below these levels which will be fixed by reference to gauge boards set to Ordnance Datum Newlyn.
Agronomic Impact
19. 20A small amount of sward deterioration will result in a slight reduction in stocking rate. This coupled with a reduction in the quantity of fertiliser applied from (200 kg N: 40 kg P2O5 :30 K2O )/ha to (25 kg N: 12 ½ kg P2O5 , 12 ½ kg K2O)/ha will decrease the stock carrying capacity. This in conjunction with the maintenance of higher water levels will reduce stocking rate from 1.65 GLU/ha to 1.0 GLU/ha. Reduced forage inputs, requirement for labour and interest on working capital will produce cost savings.
20. As for prescription 19.
21. This will result in potential loss of land for silage production. The hay produced will be of lower energy value than silage and therefore extra concentrate feed will be required.
22. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
23. This will result in loss of winter grazing for sheep and therefore incur extra costs associated with winter keep.
24. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
25. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
26. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
| Item | Losses £/ha |
Gains £/ha |
|---|---|---|
| Extra income | ||
| Reduced livestock Gross Margin | 273 | |
| Sub-total | 273 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Forage costs | 87 | |
| Interest on forage working capital | 3 | |
| Interest on working capital | 18 | |
| Labour | 28 | |
| Sub-total | 136 | |
| Income Lost | ||
| Current livestock Gross Margin | 449 | |
| Sub-total | 449 | |
| Extra costs | ||
| Weed control | 1 | |
| Ditch management | 52 | |
| Hedgerow management | 29 | |
| Gate maintenance | 1 | |
| Concentrate feeding | 12 | |
| Winter grazing | 44 | |
| Sub-total | 139 | |
| Total | 588 | 409 |
| Income forgone | 179 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2001
- 900 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £179/ ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £200/ ha
- Level of Incentive
- 11%
- Justification for Incentive
- This tier was introduced following the 1996 policy review. It is aimed at land that cannot meet the water level requirements of Tier 2 land but which would provide wildlife benefits (e.g. for brown hare, skylark, sweet vernal grass, birds-foot trefoil, meadow brown butterfly and grasshoppers) from greater management restrictions than Tier 1. Tier 1A only permits a limited application of fertiliser and requires a late cutting date. This will have a more significant negative effect upon agricultural productivity than the prescriptions of Tier 1.
The current payment lies within 120% of the calculated income forgone. The current uptake for this tier is only 57% of the target. It would, therefore, be preferable to maintain the current incentive payment.
Tier 2 - Wet permanent grassland
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-18 plus additional prescriptions set out below:
27. Do not use a chain harrow or roller between 31 March and 1 July.
28. Do not exceed your existing level of inorganic fertiliser and in any case do not exceed 25kg of nitrogen, 12.5kg of phosphate and 12.5kg of potash per hectare (20 units of nitrogen, 10 units of phosphate and 10 units of potash per acre) each year.
29. Unless traditionally the land has been used just for grazing each year mow at least one third (or one year in three) of the land but not before 1 July and do not graze the land prior to laying it up.
30. Do not cut or top the grass after 31 August.
31. Do not graze with sheep from 1 September to 1 March.
32. Do not use herbicides to control creeping buttercup.
33. Water levels in ditches and rhynes must be either:
From 1 April to 31 October maintained at or above the penning level, provided since 1987 by the relevant IDB or the EA (as appropriate) and in any case not more than 45 cm (18") below mean field level and from 1 November to 31 March, maintained at or above the winter level provided since 1987 by the relevant IDB or the EA (as appropriate) with at least 30 cm (12") of water in the bottom of the ditches/rhynes at all times.
Or, to obtain a supplementary payment:
From 1 May to 30 November water levels in ditches and rhynes must be maintained at not more than 30 cm (12") below mean field level and from 1 December to 30 April, maintained at not less than mean field level so as to cause conditions of surface splashing.
34. Agreement holders must not pump below these levels which will be fixed by reference to gauge boards set to Ordnance Datum Newlyn.
Agronomic Impact
27.A small amount of sward deterioration will result in a slight reduction in stocking rate. This coupled with a reduction in the quantity of fertiliser applied from (200 kg N :40 kg P2O5 :30 K2O)/ha to (25 kg N: 12 ½ kg P2O5 , 12 ½ kg K2O)/ha will decrease the stock carrying capacity from 1.65 GLU/ha to 0.9 GLU/ha and therefore produce a substantial decrease in the livestock gross margin. Reduced forage inputs, the requirement for labour and interest on working capital will produce cost savings.
28. As for prescription 27.
29. Mow one third of land each year. This will result in potential loss of land for silage production. The hay produced will be of lower energy value than silage and therefore extra concentrate feed will be required.
30. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
31. Do not graze with sheep from 1 September to 1 March. This will result in loss of winter grazing for sheep and therefore incur extra costs associated with winter keep.
32. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
33. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
34. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
| Item | Losses £/ha |
Gains £/ha |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Income | ||
| Reduced livestock Gross Margin | 245 | |
| Sub-total | 245 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Forage costs | 87 | |
| Interest on forage working capital | 3 | |
| Interest on working capital | 21 | |
| Labour | 34 | |
| Sub-total | 145 | |
| Income Lost | ||
| Current livestock Gross Margin | 449 | |
| Sub-total | 449 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Weed control | 1 | |
| Ditch management | 52 | |
| Hedgerow management | 29 | |
| Gate maintenance | 1 | |
| Concentrate feeding | 12 | |
| Winter grazing | 44 | |
| Sub-total | 139 | |
| Total | 588 | 390 |
| Income forgone | 198 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2001
- 2,900 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £198/ ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £225/ ha
- Level of Incentive
- 14%
- Justification for Incentive
- The objective of this tier is to enhance the ecological interest of wet grassland by controlling ditch water levels and agricultural activities. Any permanent grassland with existing or significant potential ecological interest that can meet the required water levels may enter the scheme. Grassland which is managed with high ditch water levels will particularly benefit wildlife and on peat soils enhance the preservation of organic archaeological remains. Examples of key species that would benefit are pond sedge, ragged robin, marsh marigold and meadow thistle.
This tier only permits the use of small quantities of fertiliser and, therefore, significantly reduces the agricultural potential of the land.
The current payment for this tier lies within 120% of the calculated income forgone. Since this tier, along with Tier 3, is expected to form this ESA's major contribution to the Coastal and Flood Plain Grazing Marsh Habitat Action Plan, it is important that uptake in this tier is at least maintained and preferably increased. In this context, the differential to reflect the economic effect of the late cutting date and the increased wetness of the land compared with Tier 1 needs to be maintained.
Tier 3 - Permanent grassland raised water level areas
Scheme Prescriptions
Observe prescriptions 1-18 plus additional prescriptions set out below:
35. Do not carry out mechanical operations between 31 March and 1 July.
36. Apply no inorganic fertiliser and do not exceed your existing level of organic manure provided it is only home produced cattle farmyard manure and does not exceed 25 tonnes per hectare (10 tones per acre) per annum. No slurry should be applied.
37. Graze only with cattle but do not graze before 20 May in any year.
38. Do not exceed a grazing density of one animal per 0.75 hectare (one animal per 1.8 acres) from 20 May to 8 July. Do not cause poaching, over-grazing or under-grazing.
39. Do not make silage. Unless traditionally the land has been used just for grazing each year mow at least one third of the land (or mow one year in three) but not before 8 July. Do not graze the land prior to laying it up.
40. Do not cut or top grass after 31 August.
41. Do not use herbicides to control creeping buttercup.
42. Water levels in ditches and rhynes must:
From 1 May to 30 November be maintained at not more than 30 cm (12") below mean field level and from 1 December to 30 April, maintained at not less than mean field level so as to cause conditions of surface splashing.
43. To further the objective of conserving, enhancing or protecting landscape, wildlife and historical features the Minister may specify different water level requirements.
44. Agreement holders must not pump below these levels which will be fixed by reference to gauge boards set to Ordnance Datum Newlyn.
Agronomic Impact
35. A small amount of sward deterioration will result in a slight reduction in stocking rate and the prohibition of inorganic and organic fertiliser will only permit a very low stocking rate of 0.25 GLU/ha. This will result in an 80% reduction of livestock gross margin. Reduced forage inputs, labour and interest on working capital will produce cost savings.
36. As for prescription 35.
37. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
38. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
39. Hay can only be made after 8 July. This will result in a reduction in forage digestibility. As a result extra feed will have to be purchased as feed barley.
40. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
41. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
42. Surface splash conditions have to be maintained between 1 December to 30 April . This will result in a loss of winter grazing, and therefore incur extra costs associated with winter keep. Even after drainage surface conditions remain too wet to permit grazing before 20 May. In some years grazing cannot be carried out until early June. This will result in the loss of early spring grazing and restrict the growing season. This prescription will result in the replacement of agricultural grasses with less productive native species.
43. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
44. No significant consequences for Income Forgone.
| Item | Losses £ /ha |
Gains £/ha |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Income | ||
| Reduced livestock Gross margin | 69 | |
| Sub-total | 69 | |
| Costs Saved | ||
| Forage costs | 99 | |
| Interest on forage working capital | 3 | |
| Interest on working capital | 40 | |
| Labour | 94 | |
| Sub-total | 236 | |
| Income Lost | ||
| Current livestock Gross Margin | 449 | |
| Sub-total | 449 | |
| Extra Costs | ||
| Weed control | 1 | |
| Ditch management | 52 | |
| Hedgerow management | 29 | |
| Gate maintenance | 1 | |
| Concentrate feeding | 12 | |
| Winter grazing | 44 | |
| Raised water levels | 80 | |
| Sub-total | 219 | |
| Total | 668 | 305 |
| Income forgone | 363 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2001
- 1,600 hectares (including land in Tier 1 and 2 with Raised Water Level Supplement)
- Income Forgone
- £363/ ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £430/ ha
- Level of Incentive
- 18%
- Justification for Incentive
- This tier does not allow the application of any fertiliser and requires the maintenance of water levels that provide splash conditions during the winter and spring. The short period when grazing is possible allows little flexibility and, therefore, land entered into this tier option has a very low level of agricultural productivity. The fragmented pattern of land ownership in the ESA makes operation of this tier difficult, because contiguous blocks of land are required for it to be effective.
The tier is very important for wildfowl and waders. Overwintering species that benefit include lapwing, widgeon and teal; they are present in internationally important numbers. Breeding bird species include redshank, lapwing, curlew and snipe. These areas also support wetland plants such as marsh orchid, ragged robin, marsh marigold and meadow sweet. Like Tier 2, this tier forms part of this ESA's contribution to the target for the Coastal and Flood Plain Grazing Marsh Habitat Action Plan.
Buffer strip supplement (available on tiers 1, 1A and 2)
Scheme Prescriptions
45.Cease application of inorganic fertiliser to a 6 metre strip adjacent to all the field boundaries under agreement.
Agronomic Impact
45. The stocking rate on Tier 1 land is 1.2 GLU/ha. The Buffer Strip Supplement prescription prohibits the use of inorganic fertiliser. This will result in a substantial reduction in the stocking rate to 0.5 GLU/ha.
Costs will be saved from reduced forage inputs, a reduced labour requirement and a reduction in finance charges. Plus all the costs associated with complying to Tier 1 guidelines.
| Item | Losses £/ha |
Gains £/ha |
|---|---|---|
| Extra income | - | |
| Reduced livestock Gross Margin | 135 | |
| Sub-total | 135 | |
| Costs Saved | - | |
| Forage costs | 37 | |
| Interest on forage working capital | 1 | |
| Interest on working capital | 21 | |
| Labour | 37 | |
| Sub-total | 96 | |
| Income Lost | - | |
| Tier 1 livestock Gross Margin | 323 | |
| Sub-total | 323 | |
| Extra costs | None | - |
| Total | 323 | 231 |
| Income forgone | 92 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2001
- 1000 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £92/ ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £110/ ha
- Level of Incentive
- 20%
- Justification for Incentive
- This supplement was introduced as a result of the 1996 policy review. The establishment of fertiliser-free 6-metre buffer strips parallel to water courses help reduce pollution from drainage water and to protect the floristic diversity of the ditches and rhynes. Buffer strips also reduce the risk of fertiliser misplacement directly into watercourses. Buffer strips located adjacent to hedges and other boundary features play a major role in reducing the degeneration of field boundary vegetation by avoidance of nutrient enrichment.
A payment comparable to that paid under the Countryside Stewardship scheme buffer strip option (£100/hectare) was considered appropriate.is recommended. Uptake to date is just under 60% of target, and an incentive element is necessary to ensure achievement of the target.
All year penning supplement (available on tiers 1, 1A and 2)
Scheme Prescriptions
46.On peat soils to obtain a supplementary payment:
From 1 November to 31 March maintain water levels in ditches and rhynes at or above the summer penning level, provided since 1987, by the relevant IDB or Environment Agency (as appropriate).
Agronomic Impact
46. The raised ditch water level will impede drainage over the field. This will result in changes in the botanical composition of the grassland and affect the productive capacity of the sward. Replacement of the main agricultural grasses with Agrostis sp. Yorkshire Fog and Molinia and possibly creeping buttercup which are less palatable to grazing livestock and lower energy content. To compensate for the reduction in energy value feed barley will have to be purchased.
| Item | Losses £ /ha |
Gains £ /ha |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Income | ||
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income Lost | - | |
| Extra Costs | - | |
| Supplementary feed for livestock | 19 | |
| Sub-total | 19 | |
| Total | 19 | None |
| Income forgone | 19 |
- Uptake Targets to January 2001
- 120 hectares
- Income Forgone
- £19/ ha
- Current Payment Rate
- £18/ ha
- Level of Incentive
- N/A
- Justification of Incentive
- N/A
Raised water level areas supplement
Scheme Prescriptions
Prescription 33 of Tier 2 - Wet Permanent Grassland:
Water levels in ditches and rhynes must from 1 May to 30 November be maintained at not more than 30 cm (12") below mean field level and from 1 December to 30 April, maintained at not less than mean field level so as to cause conditions of surface splashing.
Agronomic Impact
- This option permits the application of fertilisers as in tier 1 or 2, so enables farmers to try and maintain output.
- The soil will take longer to warm up, delaying the onset of spring growth. These factors will result in a restricted growing season and a loss of grass yield. Productive grasses such as ryegrass will be replaced by other less productive species such as bents, Yorkshire fog and tufted hair grass. Weeds such as creeping buttercup will ingress into the grassland. To compensate for the reduction in energy value feed barley will have to be purchased.
- Extra labour will be required to check water levels throughout the period 1 December to 30 April.
| Item | Losses £/ha |
Gains £/ha |
|---|---|---|
| Extra income | - | None |
| Costs Saved | - | None |
| Income Lost | - | |
| Extra costs | - | |
| Supplementary feed for livestock | 56 | |
| Labour costs | 24 | |
| Sub-total | 80 | |
| Total | 80 | None |
| Income forgone | 80 |
- Uptake targets to January 2001
- 1,600 hectares (including land in Tier 3)
- Income Forgone
- £80 per ha
- Current payment rate
- £80 per ha
- Level of incentive
- £0 N/A
Page last modified:
17 August, 2005
Page published: 10 December, 2002