SW6: Winter cover crops
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the winter cover crops option.
How much will be paid
£129 per hectare (ha)
Where to use this option
Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier
Whole or part parcel
Rotational
Only on one of the following:
- cultivated land that is vulnerable to nitrate leaching (land that is within a designated NVZ area)
- cultivated land, draining directly to a watercourse, that is identified on the Farm Environment Record (FER) as at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff
Related Mid Tier options
The following options can be located on the same area as this option.
- HS3 - Reduced-depth, non-inversion cultivation on historic and archaeological features
- OR3 - Organic conversion - rotational land
- OR4 - Organic conversion - horticulture
- OT3 - Organic land management - rotational land
- OT4 – Organic land management - horticulture
How this option will benefit the environment
Cover crops help to reduce nitrate leaching on land that would normally be left bare or down to stubbles during winter. It may also reduce the risk of potential pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, being carried to neighbouring watercourses.
Aims
If you’re selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aims is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.
Establish as soon as possible after the harvest (by early autumn at the latest), a suitably fast growing cover crop, providing a dense cover over the winter period. Destroy the cover crop in late winter, no more than 6 weeks before establishing the following spring crop.
Prohibited activities
To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities.
- Apply any fertilisers or manures
On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.
Recommended management
To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option we recommend that you use best practice.
- Please refer to Aims, Prohibited activities and Additional guidance and advice
Keeping records
Where there is uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.
- Field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
Additional guidance and advice
The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.
How to choose the right location
This option on should be used on vulnerable soil types, particularly light sandy soils within nitrate vulnerable areas. Use the run-off and soil erosion risk assessment form to identify fields at moderate or higher risk of surface run-off or soil erosion. You can then mark these fields on your Farm Environment Record map. You don’t have to use this form. You can use your own document if it gives enough information to meet the requirements
Choice of cover crop
- a mix or a single crop can be used, but crops should be suitable for winter sowing, fast growing (to mop up N) and frost tolerant to provide adequate cover over winter
- a mixture of seeds, such as rye, vetch, phacelia, barley or mustard, can be sown, or other crops such as ryegrass or tillage radish, but the choice of cover crop will depend on herbicide selected and the rates of application for the previous crop
- choice of cover crop will also depend on the crops grown in the rotation
How to manage the crop
- Remove any areas of soil compaction but do not subsoil on archaeological features
- Establish the cover crop by 15 September, so it can take up soil nitrate before winter drainage water leaches it below the depth of the developing plant
- Establish by drilling or broadcasting
- Sow at a suitable seed rate to provide a dense cover and protect from soil erosion
- Destroy the cover crop in late January or February, before it is too well developed – if left too late nitrate leaching may increase the following winter
- Cover crop destruction may include an application of glyphosate prior to destruction by cultivation for the following crop
Using this option next to a watercourse
On fields next to a watercourse that are at risk of soil erosion and runoff, applicants should also consider creating grass buffer strips. They will help to capture any sediment or organic materials carried in runoff water. Options SW1 - 4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land, SW4 - 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land, or other grass buffer options may be used
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
This option can form part of an IPM approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases. If successful, appropriate and within proximity of cropped areas, these may limit the need for the use of Plant Protection Products and enhance wildlife and biodiversity on your holding. Read information on IPM at AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Integrated Pest Management and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming).
Biodiversity
This option has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.
The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.
Further information
Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier and Higher Tier including how to apply.
Last updated 8 February 2022 + show all updates
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New payment rate from 1 January 2022.
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Additional guidance and advice section updated - this option can form part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases.
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Option updated for agreements starting 1 January 2022
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From 1 January 2019, this option cannot be used on land already receiving funding for Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) declared for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
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Updated for 2017 applications.
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Information updated for applications in 2016.
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First published.