Stewardship
Countryside Stewardship and the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS)
Seed Mixtures
The developing SFI scheme encourages farmers to manage their land in ways in which the government views as environmentally beneficial, whilst getting back some or all the subsidy payment that has been lost due to the reduction in the Basic Payment Scheme. We are ready to supply the seed to enable your farm to enter and comply with SFI. Most of the options are for 3 years, some can be rotated around the farm, some not. Please read the guidance at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfi-handbook-for-the-sfi-2024-offer.
The Welsh Assembly has a different scheme, which is planned to be live for 2026:
www.gov.wales/sustainable-farming-scheme-guide
- CSAM3 & GS4 Herbal Ley
- AB1 – Nectar Flower Mix
- AB8 – Flower Rich Margins
- CALH2 and AB9 – 2 Year Two Year Winter Bird Food
- CALH2 and AB9 – 1 Year One Year Winter Bird Food
- AB15 – Two Year Sown Legume Fallow
- SOH2 Multi Species Spring Sown Cover Crop
- SOH3 Multi Species Summer Sown Cover Crop
- SOH4 – Winter Cover Following Maize
- CIPM2 Flower Rich Margins
- CALH1 Pollen & Nectar Mix
CSAM3 & GS4 Herbal Ley
Current payment of £382 per ha
Simple Herbal Ley
Very popular option due to its higher payment rate and flexibility. Nitrogen fertiliser limited to 40kg N per ha, and a closed period of 5 weeks during May / June / July is recommended. No restriction on manures other than existing “Farming Rules for Water”. We have studied the guidelines to design mixes that are fully compliant yet maximise forage production. The legumes need to be 30% of the sward to start to replace artificial nitrogen fertilisers.
Suitable for CSAM3
A Long Term cut and graze mix.
- 3kg Caledon (T) Intermediate PRG
- 2kg Gosford Intermediate PRG
- 3kg Twymax (T) Late PRG
- 3kg Glenarm Late PRG
- 1kg Timothy
- 0.75kg White Clover
- 0.25kg Red Clover
- 0.5kg Perennial Chicory
- 0.5kg Perennial Plantain
Sow at 14kg per acre
Complex Herbal Ley
Suitable for CSAM3
A mainly grazing ley, that will be suited to a
cut of hay or silage a little later in the season
- 2kg Intermediate PRG
- 2.5kg Late PRG
- 0.475kg Meadow Fescue
- 1.1kg Timothy
- 1.6kg Festulolium
- 0.8kg Red Clover
- 0.25kg Alsike Clover
- 0.1kg Lucerne
- 0.2kg Birdsfoot trefoil
- 0.4kg Chicory
- 0.4kg Plantain
- 0.1kg Yarrow
- 0.05kg Sheeps Parsley
- 0.025kg Sheeps Burnet
Sow at 10kg per acre
Herbal Ley to Drill into Existing Swards
Suitable for CSAM3
When attempting to establish legumes and herbs in an existing sward, we recommend the sward is cut or grazed tightly, and maybe sprayed with a reduced rate of glyphosate to check its regrowth. The seed mixture is direct drilled using a disc drill and rolled once or twice afterwards. Graze lightly with
sheep a couple of weeks post drilling to prevent seedlings being shaded by
existing grasses. No fertiliser should be applied. Ideally the sward can be cut 8-10 weeks after drilling when the herbs and legumes have established.
- 1kg White Clover
- 1kg Red Clover
- 0.5kg perennial Chicory
- 0.5kg perennial Plantain
Sow at 3kg per acre
AB1 Nectar Flower
- 10% Alsike Clover
- 10% Birdsfoot Trefoil
- 5% Sainfoin
- 40% Vetch
- 10% Red Clover
- 10% Late Flowering Red Clover
- 5% Lucerne
- 5% Sweet Clover
- 1.5% Knapweed
- 1% Musk mallow
- 1% Oxeye Daisy
- 1% Wild Carrot
- 0.5% Yarrow
Sow at 15kg per hectare
AB8 Flower Rich Margins
- 25% Slender Red Fescue
- 15% Hard Fescue
- 12% Chewings Fescue
- 10% SSMG
- 10% Crested Dogstail
- 5% Sheeps Fescue
- 3% Browntop Bent
- 3% Winter Vetch
- 3% Sainfoin
- 2.5% Birdsfoot Trefoil
- 2% Black Medick
- 2% Red Clover
- 1.25% Oxeye Daisy
- 1% Ribwort Plantain
- 1% Wild Carrot
- 1% Yarrow
- 0.5% Wild Marjoram
- 0.5% Black Knapweed
- 0.5% Musk Mallow
- 0.5% Red Campion
- 0.5% Self Heal
- 0.25% Ladys Bedstraw
- 0.25% Meadow Buttercup
- 0.25% Yellow Rattle
Sow at 16-20kg per hectare
CALH2 and AB9 Two Year Winter Bird Food
Current payment of £853* per ha
- 50% Spring Triticale
- 30% Spring Barley
- 5% Fodder Radish
- 7% Kale
- 5% Red & White Millet
- 3% Linseed
Sow at 20kg per acre
CALH2 and AB9 One Year Winter Bird Food
Current payment of £853* per ha
- 50% Spring Triticale
- 30% Spring Barley
- 7% Sunflower
- 5% White Millet
- 5% Red Millet
- 3% Quinoa
Sow at 20kg per acre
AB15 – Two Year Sown Legume Fallow
66% Perennial Ryegrass
15% Red Clover
10% Vetch
7% Birdsfoot Trefoil
2% Knapweed
Sow at 37–50kg per hectare
SOH2 Multi Species Spring Sown Cover Crop
Current payment of £163* per ha
These mixtures must contain at least 4
species of a rapid growing nature.
- 50% Black Oats
- 30% Common Vetch
- 10% White Mustard
- 5% Fodder Radish
- 5% Phacelia
Sow at 6 – 8 kg per acre
SOH3 Multi Species Summer Sown Cover Crop
Current payment of £163* per ha
These mixtures must contain at least 4
species of a rapid growing nature.
- 50% Black Oats
- 30% Common Vetch
- 15% White Mustard
- 5% Crimson Clover
Sow at 8 kg per acre
SOH4 – Winter Cover Following Maize
Current payment of £203* per ha
A quick growing cover crop to be established as soon as maize is removed. Can be grazed but no
fertilisers or manures. Can be destroyed a maximum of 6 weeks ahead of spring planting. This option
is very flexible in terms of what can be sown, the most cost-effective option will normally be a straight
ryegrass or mustard. Please enquire.
CIPM2 Flower Rich Margins
Current payment of £798* per ha
We have a range of mixtures – please enquire.
CALH1 Pollen & Nectar Mix
Current payment of £739* per ha
We have a range of mixtures – please enquire.
FREE delivery on all orders over £250
Please call for more information