OP3: Supplementary feeding for farmland birds
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the supplementary feeding for farmland birds option.
How much will be paid
£935 per tonne for every 2 hectares (ha) of wild bird seed mixture.
Where to use this option
It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier only:
- on land registered as organic or ‘in conversion’ with a Defra-licensed organic control body
- when a qualifying area of OP2 wild bird seed mixture option is included in the agreement (you can apply for 1 tonne of OP3 supplementary feeding for every 2ha of OP2 Wild bird seed mixture)
Related Mid Tier options
You can locate the following options on the same area as this option.
- OR3 - Organic conversion - rotational land
- OT3 - Organic land management - rotational land
- SP9 Threatened species supplement
How this option will benefit the environment
Winter supplementary feeding
It provides important food sources for farmland birds in late winter and early spring on arable and mixed farms, by supplementing crops of winter bird food with additional seed, such as cereal, oilseed and specialised grains.
It gives the birds food through the ‘hungry gap’ (the late winter period when seed is in short supply) and as they enter the breeding season.
Ideally there will be seed-eating farmland birds using the feeding areas from December to April, including:
- yellowhammer
- grey partridge
- tree sparrow
- corn bunting
- linnet
- turtle dove (seen during the spring and summer) Target birds will be seen more frequently on the farm in the spring and there will be increased breeding success there.
Summer supplementary feeding
You can also use this option in combination with the SP9 Threatened species supplement to deliver summer supplementary feeding for turtle doves in priority areas.
You can find more information on how to carry out summer supplementary feeding for turtle doves in the Where to use this option, Requirements and Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this option sections on GOV.UK for SP9 .
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.
From 1 December to 30 April, there will be about 25 kilograms (kg) of both cereals and other small seeds (see recommended management for details of the seed mix) scattered once a week in multiple locations. For every 1 tonne of supplementary feed, there will be 2 feeding stations supplying 500kg each (or if there is less than 1 tonne of supplementary feed, it will be split equally between 2 separate feeding stations).
The seed will be scattered in areas which are firm and free-draining, such as farm tracks or hard standing areas, and in close proximity to enhanced overwinter stubbles, game cover or wild bird seed mixtures.
Keep a feeding diary which includes details of mixture used (weight of components and cost), dates of feeding, method of feeding (hopper or spreading), amount of feed, and the location of feeding areas.
Prohibited activities
To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities.
- Use hoppers to supply more than 10% of the total amount of feed provided during the specified feeding period
- Use tailings (small seeds and chaff removed from the harvested crop) to supply more than 30% by weight of the supplementary feed
- Use a non-organic seed mix unless organic seed is unavailable, in which case you must apply to the organic control body for a derogation.
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.
We recommend that you:
- make sure the winter supplementary feeding mix includes both cereals (not maize) and other small seeds. The small seeds component must be a minimum of 30% of the total mix by weight and contain at least three of the following, with no individual species exceeding 50% of the total small seed component by weight:
- canary seed
- linseed
- oilseed rape
- red millet
- sunflower hearts
- white millet
- spread the winter supplementary feeding mix at a rate of 25kg per feeding station once a week for 20 weeks between 1 December until 30 April. You can vary the amount to be fed by up to 5kg per week to match demand as necessary
- the feeding stations do not need to be located in the same areas as OP2 Wild bird seed mixture. You can choose suitable locations as listed in the Aims of this option.
- make sure the mix meets organic standards. Apply to the control body for a derogation if organic seed is unavailable.
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.
- Dates of feeding
- Method of feeding (hopper or spreading)
- Amount of feed spread on each date
- The location of the feeding areas
- A valid organic certificate and schedule for all the parcels entered into this option at application and on your annual claim – RPA will not request this information if you have already supplied it for a Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) claim
Additional guidance and advice
The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.
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 4 January 2024 + show all updates
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Update to How Much Is Paid
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New payment rate from 1 January 2022.
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Option updated for agreements starting 1 January 2022
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The How this option will benefit the environment and Requirements sections were updated yesterday
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This page has been updated
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Updated for 2017 applications.
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Information updated for applications in 2016.
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First published.