EFA 2018 simple question

Hay Farmer

Member
Location
Herefordshire
I’ve been unable to get through to the RPA on the telephone, and the person I spoke to at the FAS doesn’t really know. Have also read some threads on here with various conflicting answers.

I’ve always grown pulses so never really needed to think about EFA rules too much, apologies if this is a particularly thick question.

So, here goes...
When I make my BPS claim next May, can I use catch or cover crops to cover the EFA requirements which I will then plant post harvest in August 2018? Or do they need to have been planted this autumn?

Thanks.
 
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BigBarl

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
South Notts
'EFA catch crops must be maintained for a minimum of 8 weeks starting on 20 August 2018 and must be retained until at least 14 October 2018. The period for EFA cover crops remains at 1 October to 15 January of the following year.'

taken from the .gov website so you are right.
 

4course

Member
Location
north yorks
catch crop of mustard plus barley etc has worked a treat for us this last couple of years, helping with soil improvement removing moisture enabling timely sowing etc and offering a habitat for creatures of all sorts until rape and other crops are established in the vicinity , now theve moved the date of retention means its too late for us to follow with cereals in any quantity which is a shame as cant see us using this option as much
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
catch crop of mustard plus barley etc has worked a treat for us this last couple of years, helping with soil improvement removing moisture enabling timely sowing etc and offering a habitat for creatures of all sorts until rape and other crops are established in the vicinity , now theve moved the date of retention means its too late for us to follow with cereals in any quantity which is a shame as cant see us using this option as much

It suits spring cropping better. It's ironic that the autumn catch crops retention actually makes winter erosion and nitrate leaching worse in the following crop because it will have been sown later and won't be as developed...
 

4course

Member
Location
north yorks
It suits spring cropping better. It's ironic that the autumn catch crops retention actually makes winter erosion and nitrate leaching worse in the following crop because it will have been sown later and won't be as developed...
it was fine as 1st oct but 15th is I agree too late for us to get crop established some years esp if weather delays the job and the chances of us sowing spring crops of is nil, id rather fallow and know we had no chance of a margin than sow spring crops other than grass knowing we would loose money most years
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
Hmm. A fallow has a negative margin. Costs of managing it as well as spreading your remaining overheads over a greater area, rent etc. A break even spring crop can lose you less money, though you have to cost it out carefully and look at the management opportunities of a fallow for weed control, drainage work, mole ploughing, setting aside marginal land, awkward field corners and all that.
 

4course

Member
Location
north yorks
Hmm. A fallow has a negative margin. Costs of managing it as well as spreading your remaining overheads over a greater area, rent etc. A break even spring crop can lose you less money, though you have to cost it out carefully and look at the management opportunities of a fallow for weed control, drainage work, mole ploughing, setting aside marginal land, awkward field corners and all that.
ive always found work on the first loss best loss regime, but see where your coming from though maybe didnt make clear that I would have a grass fallow then 2 cuts after 1st july and leave down for a year but this is being scuppered by the no spray rule for efa
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
A grass fallow sounds good - weed suppression by the ley and a harvest after the end of the fallow period. Would you leave it down for a further year after that? The expensive bit of grass is the establishment.
 

4course

Member
Location
north yorks
A grass fallow sounds good - weed suppression by the ley and a harvest after the end of the fallow period. Would you leave it down for a further year after that? The expensive bit of grass is the establishment.
yes leave it down for a further year at least and follow with wheat . This years" fallow " had 3 harvests. 1st cut early july hay little bales for horse trade next cut late august early sept haylage could possibly have made hay if weather had been on our side then now available for lamb grazing reckon these 2 small fields are as profitable as any. Plus a good break so have sown a bit more" fallow "this year , blweeds are a bit of a concern as cant spray next year under the new rules if ive understood them correctly
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
Surely you can spray the weeds outside the fallow period 1st July - 31st December? Nothing to stop you topping them in spring either but it's a PITA not to be able to spot treat for noxious weeds like ragwort, thistles & docks in the best season which is spring. Mind you, if they allowed "spot" treatment of those a crop of beans would need bromoxynil and bentazone ;)
 

4course

Member
Location
north yorks
blw once 1st cut is done arnt a problem its (charlock runch ketlocks call em what you like) thats the bugbear dont think we can spray maybe could graze with sheep which would be our normal routine proir to start of fallow period will have to check rules of the fallow start next year 15th jan , isnt topping going to be banned or have I read that wrong someone will know? and the fallow period ends 15th july next year not 1st ive just been reminded which will make this plan a little more difficult but not impossible ( note ive edited this post to make sense)
 
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