Defra

EK1 Take field corners out of management

The provision of unmanaged areas will increase the wildlife interest of the farm. This option must not be located on archaeological sites.

For this option you must:

• Take unproductive or awkward corners of improved grass fields out of management. Improved grass is that receiving over 50 kg/N per ha.
• Patch size must be no more than 0.5 ha and there must be no more than three patches per 10 ha, so that the option is well distributed across the land.
• Do not apply fertiliser or manure.
• 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).
• In order to allow the development of low scrub and tussocky grass, you must not cut more frequently than once in every five years.
• Do not graze.

EK1, 400 points per ha

EK2 Permanent grassland with low inputs

Permanent grassland managed with low inputs of fertiliser and herbicides will sustain higher numbers of plants, butterflies and insects than those subject to greater intensification. Permanent grassland is an important feature of pastoral landscapes and can help to protect buried archaeological features. In addition, the more extensively managed the grassland, the less the likelihood of run-off of nutrients into watercourses. This option can be used on a whole or part-field basis.

For this option you must:

• Maintain as grass, do not plough or re-seed.
• Do not apply more than 50 kg/ha nitrogen per year as inorganic fertiliser. Where animal manures are applied, either alone or in addition to inorganic fertiliser, the total rate of nitrogen must not exceed 100 kg/ha N per year. You may find it helpful to refer to the table in appendix 2 showing average total N supplied by various manures . Do not apply between 1 April and 31 May. If your current manure and fertiliser regime is less than this you must not increase applications.
• Do not harrow or roll between 1 April and 31 May.
• Supplementary feeding is allowed, but move feeders as often as required to avoid poaching and do not feed on or next to archaeological sites, steep slopes, footpaths or watercourses.
• Manage by grazing and/or cutting, but do not cut between 1 April and 31 May.
• 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).

EK2, 85 points per ha

EK3 Permanent grassland with very low inputs

Grassland managed with no fertiliser has a higher value for wildlife. Over 90% of traditionally managed grassland has been lost to agricultural intensification so it is important to maintain, and where possible, increase this resource. This option can be used on a whole or part-field basis. If your field has more than a third of its area covered by rushes, it must go into option EK4, Management of rush pastures (outside the LFA), rather than this option.

For this option you must:

• Maintain as grass, do not plough or re-seed.
• You may apply up to 12.5 tonnes/ha (5 t/acre) of FYM a year in a single application, but only where the grassland is regularly cut. FYM must not be applied between 1 April and 30 June to avoid damage to ground nesting bird sites. No other type of fertiliser or manure may be applied. You may find it useful to refer to the table in appendix 2 showing average total N supplied by various manures.
• Do not cultivate.
• Do not supplementary feed.
• Manage by grazing and/or cutting, to remove the year's grass growth, but do not cut or top between 1 April and 30 June.
• Do not harrow or roll between 1 April and 30 June.
• 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).

EK3, 150 points per ha

EK4 Management of rush pastures (outside the LFA)

This option is available for fields where at least a third of the field area is covered by rushes. Damp pasture on farmland is a very important potential habitat for lapwing, curlew, redshank, snipe and reed bunting. Different types of waders like different vegetation heights, so a variety in the sward structure is most beneficial.

For this option you must:

• Do not apply more than 50 kg/ha nitrogen per year as inorganic fertiliser. Where animal manures are applied, either alone or in addition to inorganic fertiliser, the total rate of nitrogen must not exceed 100 kg/ha N per year (see appendix 2 for N conversion table). Do not apply between 1 April and 31 May. If your current manure or fertiliser regime is less than this you must not increase applications.
• Cut rush dominated fields each calendar year, but not between 15 March and 1 August. Cut no more than a third of the area of rushes in each field (or a third of the fields if they are small) in rotation. It may be impractical to cut rushes in the wettest flushes, and therefore these can be left. Cattle trampling may help to control these areas.
• Where possible graze the aftermath with cattle.
• Once cut, if rushes are not controlled by aftermath grazing, a second cut should be carried out within eight weeks, but not between 1 April and 1 August.
• 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).

EK4, 150 points per ha over the whole field

Enclosed rough grazing

EK5 Mixed stocking

This option is now available on land within and outside the LFAs

The decline of mixed stocking is one of the underlying causes of the reduction in numbers of several important farmland bird species. Mixed stocking encourages a diversity of sward structure and species. This option is not available to producers who are in receipt of the Hill Farm Allowance.

This option is only available on land which is grazed by both cattle and sheep, either in the same year or in alternate years as part of a clean grazing system.

• A minimum of 15% of the livestock units must be grazing cattle.
• A minimum of 15% of the livestock units must be grazing sheep.

Livestock units are calculated over a two year period.

Animal numbers are converted into Livestock Units as follows:
Dairy cow	1.0
Beef cow	1.0
Cattle over two years old	1.0
Cattle six months to two years	0.6
Lowland ewe and lamb	0.15
Hill ewe	0.10
Ram and teg over six months	0.15
Horse	1.0
Pony	0.6

EK5, 8 points per ha