SW13: Very low nitrogen inputs to groundwaters

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the very low nitrogen inputs to groundwaters option.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
13 March 2023 — See all updates
Grant type:
Option
Land use:
Biodiversity, Grassland, Uplands, Water quality
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier, Mid Tier
Funding (per unit per year):
£301 to £400

How much will be paid

£396 per hectare (ha)

Where to use this option

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier on whole parcels of improved grassland that meets each of the following requirements:

  • the area receives more than 200kg of nitrogen per ha per year
  • the area is specified as a priority Water Framework Directive (WFD) groundwater failure within the Countryside Stewardship targeting, for which this option is a priority
  • this option must be applied to all land parcels within the target area

To use this option an applicant must also meet one of the following conditions:

  • be following a recommended fertiliser management system to plan nutrient inputs across the farm
  • plan to adopt a recommended fertiliser management system within 18 months of the start of the agreement
  • qualify as a low intensity farmer

How this option will benefit the environment

It will reduce nutrient input to grassland in highly targeted locations to help slow or reverse nutrient levels in groundwater. This will be targeted to help specific designated sites and Water Framework Directive Protected Areas.

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

Throughout the year there will be a grass sward with an average sward height of between 5 and 15 cm in November. There will be minimal bare ground. Only a small amount of well-rotted cattle farmyard manure will be applied and only in years when the field is cut for hay or silage.

Prohibited activities

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities.

  • Plough, cultivate or re-seed
  • Supplementary feed, except for the provision of mineral blocks (non-energy based)
  • Use pesticides or herbicides, except to spot-treat or weed-wipe to control injurious weeds, invasive non-natives, nettles or bracken
  • Apply manures or fertilisers (except when the parcel is cut), and do not apply more than either 12 tonnes of well-rotted cattle farmyard manure per ha per year or equivalent amounts of available nutrients as fertiliser or in other organic manures as an alternative to cattle farmyard manure. Do not increase your application rate if your current rate is less than this

To assist you in achieving the aims and delivering the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend you employ best practice.

We recommend that you:

  • graze or cut for hay or silage
  • make sure bare ground covers less than 10% of the total area by year 2

Keeping records

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:

  • receipted invoices, consents or permissions connected to the work
  • records of all management activity on the option area for each parcel
  • a monthly record of the number of livestock grazing the land
  • evidence that a recommended fertiliser management system is used or evidence to support low intensity farmer claim

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any activities prohibited by the option requirements.

The detailed requirements for this option will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. Applicants should discuss and agree these requirements with their adviser.

The following options can be located on the same area as this option:

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this option

The following section gives advice on carrying out this option successfully but does not form part of the requirements for this option.

How to choose the right location

This option is only available in targeted areas. The targeting is restricted to specified areas to improve the quality of groundwater feeding into at risk (nitrogen-limited) designated sites and failing groundwater drinking water protected areas.

This option will also be restricted to areas where grassland is the major agricultural land use, in other words, at least 80% of land is grassland receiving more than 200 kg nitrogen per hectare per year.

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.

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 13 March 2023 + show all updates

  1. This option is now available for Mid Tier - sections have been updated to reflect this.

  2. New payment rate from 1 January 2022.

  3. Updated for 2017 applications.

  4. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  5. First published.

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