Defra

EG1 Under sown spring cereals

The addition of a grass/legume mix as an under storey to the cereal crop will reduce the need for agrochemical inputs, increase the diversity of habitat provided in the field and benefit farm wildlife.

For this option you must:

• Undersow a spring cereal crop (but not maize) with a grass ley, including at least 10% legume by weight.
• Establish the cereal crop between 14 February and 20 April.
• Keep the under sown plant growth until the cereal crop is harvested. This must not be before 1 July (and the cereal crop is fully ripe).
• Do not destroy the grass ley before 15 July the following year.
• This option is a 'rotational option'. This means that it can move around the farm with the normal rotation, but the same total hectarage must be maintained.

EG1, 200 points per ha

EG2 Wild bird seed mixture in grassland areas

This type of crop will feed seed-eating birds in grassland landscapes. The aim is to provide a year round continuous supply of food.

This option may not be used on fields which have been in permanent grass for five years or more.

For this option you must:

• Sow a combination (either as a mixture or in alternate rows) of at least three small-seed bearing crops (e.g. cereal, kale, quinoa, linseed, millet, mustard, fodder radish, borage), with no single species making up more than 70% of the mix.
• Sow in strips at least 6 m wide at the edges of fields and/or in blocks. Blocks or strips must not exceed 0.5 ha and you must have no more than one block or strip per 20 ha, so that blocks and strips are well distributed across the land. Strips or blocks may, periodically, be relocated within the same field where there is a need to avoid the build up of weeds or soil borne disease.
• To maintain seed production, re-sow at least every other year.
• Only apply fertiliser or manure if necessary for establishment.
• Apply herbicides only to spot treat or weed wipe for the control of injurious grass weeds (i.e. creeping or spear thistle, curled or broadleaved dock, or common ragwort), or invasive alien species (e.g. Himalayan balsam, rhododendron or Japanese knotweed). However contact, non-residual, products may be used prior to spring re-sowing to facilitate re-establishment.
• Seed treatment to control seedling pests and diseases is permitted where essential for successful establishment.
• Do not apply any other pesticides.
• The area must not be used for access, turning or storage.
• Do not graze.

EG2, 450 points per ha

EG3 Pollen and nectar seed mixtures in grassland areas

Incorporating flowering plants in a plot will boost the numbers of pollen and nectar feeding insects, including butterflies and bumblebees. This option may not be used on fields which have been in permanent grass for five years or more.

For this option you must:

• Sow a mixture of at least three pollen and nectar rich plants (e.g. red clover, alsike clover, bird's-foot-trefoil), with no single species making up more than 70% of the mix. The inclusion of non-aggressive grasses (e.g. meadow fescue, sheep's fescue, smooth stalked meadowgrass) can help reduce the impact of annual weeds.
• Sow in strips at least 6 m wide at the edges of fields and/or in blocks during July to August or mid-March to mid-April.
• Blocks or strips must not exceed 0.5 ha and you must have no more than one block or strip per 20 ha, so that blocks and strips are well distributed across the land.
• Re-establish the mix as necessary to maintain a sustained pollen and nectar supply.
• Contact, non-residual products, may be applied prior to re-establishment, otherwise apply herbicides only to spot treat or weed wipe for the control of injurious weeds (i.e. creeping or spear thistle, curled or broadleaved dock, or common ragwort), or invasive alien species (e.g. Himalayan balsam, rhododendron or Japanese knotweed).
• Do not apply any other pesticides, fertiliser, manure or lime.
• To stimulate late flowering, cut half the area to 20 cm in June and the whole area to 10 cm between 15 September and 31 October, ideally removing cuttings.
• The area must not be used for access, turning or storage.
• Winter/autumn grazing benefits legumes and is allowed, but do not graze in the spring or summer and avoid poaching.

EG3, 450 points per ha

EG4 Cereals for whole crop silage followed by over-wintered stubbles

The benefits of this are the provision of a seed source in the winter stubble and from the unripe grain.

A peacock butterfly nectaring on spear thistle

For this option you must:

• Sow a cereal (but not maize) in the autumn or spring.
• Harvest as whole crop silage.
• Do not apply insecticides between 15 March and harvest.
• The following herbicides can be applied to control problem grass and broad-leaved weeds. For broad-leaved weeds use only amidosulfuron and only between 1 February and 31 March. For grass weeds use only the following active ingredients: tri-allate, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, dicloflop-methyl + fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, tralkoxydim or clodinafop-propargyl. Not all herbicides are suitable for all cereal crops or for under sown crops - always read the product label.
• There are no restrictions on the use of fungicides or growth regulators.
• Retain stubble until at least 15 February in the following year and follow with a spring sown crop.
• No more than 5 ha of this option may be included in your application.
• This option is a 'rotational option'. This means that it may move around the farm with the normal arable rotation, but the same total hectarage must be maintained.

EG4, 230 points per ha

EG5 Brassica fodder crops followed by over-wintered stubbles

The management of fodder brassicas grazed in situ, such as rape, kale and stubble turnips, where weeds can persist in the crop and set seed, provide an important habitat for small-seed-eating birds. You must not locate these crops in any fields identified on your Farm Environment Record as high soil erosion risk.

For this option you must:

• Graze carefully to minimise poaching and soil erosion.
• Contact, non-residual, products may be used to control weeds prior to cultivations. In addition, the use of the soil residual herbicide, propachlor is permitted when growing kale or swedes.
• Retain the area uncultivated as stubble until at least 15 February in the following year and follow with a spring sown crop.
• Do not apply any pesticides, fertilisers, manure or lime to the stubble.
• This option is a 'rotational option'. This means that it may move round the farm with the normal rotation, but the same total hectarage must be maintained.

EG5, 90 points per ha